Aidan Carlson continues to make progress after brain injury

ST. CHARLES – Aidan Carlson continues to make progress in his recovery from a brain injury following a football game Oct. 4 at St. Charles East High School.

Sean Peters, Carlson's uncle, stated in a post on Carlson's Go Fund Me page that he has been transferred to the inpatient rehabilitation unit at Advocate Lutheran General Hospital in Park Ridge. He said Carlson is standing and walking "a little bit."

"We're so thrilled with how tough he is fighting to speed up his recovery process," Peters said. "It's amazing to see him walking already and he's taking some strides without his walker a few steps at a time."

"There will be many hurdles in his rehab, but I know he will face these challenges with the same determination he showed on the football field. Thanks to everyone who has kept him in their prayers and continued to support our family through your donations and generosity," Peters wrote on the page.

Peters said Carlson is still struggling with speaking, but is undergoing speech therapy.

"We're hoping he continues to make advances there. That will be his biggest hurdle," Peters said.

Carlson, 15, suffered a subdural hematoma – bleeding on his brain – and collapsed in the locker room after the sophomore football game. He was airlifted to Lutheran General Hospital from Delnor, where he underwent emergency brain surgery just hours after he walked off the field. Part of his skull that was removed during the surgery has not been put back in place.

"He will need another procedure done on his skull, but we don't have any details yet," Peters explained.

In a text message, Carlson's mother, Cristalle Moran of St. Charles, said that her son's recovery has just begun.

"Just because he woke up... Aidan is not Aidan. He is nowhere near being back to his old self," she stated. "We will be in the hospital for several weeks with inpatient rehab and then to outpatient [rehab]."