Eleven year-old Brandon Williams was mauled by a pack of dogs in August. One of them ripped off both his ears. His face and neck were torn.
It took his dad 30 minutes just to free him from the dog.
Six days later, he was released from the hospital, facing a long hours of rehabilitation.
Brandon thought he was going to die during the attack.
But now, he's back to playing football, basketball, roughhousing, like any normal eleven year-old.
"Real good. Christmas is my favorite time of the year," said Brandon.
Like any other kid, he can't wait to open the presents underneath the tree that he put up himself.
"Enjoying life, like an 11 year-old would be," said his dad, Tony Williams.
Williams says the family has been in and out of hospitals, for check-ups, treatment, and rehab.
"We keep it moisturized, and you gotta massage and stretch the scars...all the scarring that's raised," said Williams.
Life is hardly back to normal, but things are looking up for the Williams family.
Tony's getting more work as a mechanic, his father is out of the hospital, and they get to spend Christmas together.
"New year looks good anyways so far. It is so far," said Tony.
He says they couldn't have gotten through this year without donations and the kindness of others.
But his biggest inspiration is watching Brandon fight for recovery.
"He's been real strong, healing good, determined, ain't giving up, just keep working. I told him to not give up, to make it work," said Tony.
Brandon still has to go back to Shriner's hospital in Ohio every three months for treatment, but his dad says many have lent a helping hand with the costs.
The Williams family has set up a trust fund for his recovery at the US Bank in Newport.
(WVLT - Dec 22, 2011)
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