WAVE 3 TV Louisville, KY | Video game system helped teen quickly recover from paralyzing car crash injuries

Video game system helped teen quickly recover from paralyzing car crash injuries

By Elizabeth Donatelli

LOUISVILLE (WAVE) -- Kids spend countless hours playing video games-- leaving some parents wondering if their kids are getting enough exercise and social interaction. In one remarkable case video games may have helped saved a teenager's life as he knows it. WAVE 3's Elizabeth Donatelli has more.

"The only thing I really remember is leaving my girlfriend's house and waking up in the hospital two days later," said Wesley Battles

On January 15, 2007 the then 16-year-old crashed his truck into a tree just minutes from his house.

"It's every parent's nightmare," said Wesley's father, Dr. Bruce Battles.

Wesley was airlifted to Vanderbilt Hospital with broken bones and damage to his liver and pancreas.

"Every little beep that went off on the machines -- we were afraid that he would die," said his mother, Allison.

Wesley suffered severe neck and brain injuries and he was paralyzed on his right side.

"There's only 74 written medical articles on this injury because it is so rare, normally the people die," said Bruce.

Wesley didn't die, and just one year after the crash, you can't tell how severely injured he was. Wesley has his father's clever idea to thank for his quick recovery.

"When it came time -- the most important time in my life -- when it was time to help my son, I had the training and ability to think outside the box and see things that other people didn't see," Bruce said.

Battles has 25 years experience working to rehabilitate people with brain injuries, and he turned to video games to help heal his son. Less than two weeks after the accident, Wesley was bowling on the Nintendo Wii.

"When I first started it, I could barely hold down the controller to push the button," said Wesley. "I actually had to use two hands to hold down the button."

He could have been paralyzed for life, but within one week he noticed a change.

"After a week of just playing the Wii I could move all my arm and have full movement," Wesley said.

His father believes the Wii helped strengthen his motor skills and cognitive reasoning.

"It's amazing what a 16-year-old body can do with a positive attitude," Bruce said.

Playing video games also made the rehab process fun -- and gave him the chance to beat many of his favorite games, especially Guitar Hero. His parents joke that they may have even over-stimulated his artistic side.

"He's like he's an artist now," said Allison. "He's never done anything like that before."

That may be speculation, but Wesley did get his life back. "I'm just glad Wesley is going to have a chance to live out his life and as for any mother, that's all you really want, to have a normal life. I know he's going to have that."

There are few, if any studies, of how and if "Wii-Hab" really works, but after the positive results with his son, Bruce received a grant from the Department of Education to study seven patients with long-term brain injuries.

Bruce predicts the Wii will improve their range of motion, social skills, and improve short term memory. The study was set to begin in March.

Online Reporter: Elizabeth Donatelli

Online Producer: Michael Dever