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10-year-old Otsego boy still unconscious, making progress after snowmobile accident

Jurien & Jaden Shaffer
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OTSEGO, Mich. — It has been nearly two weeks since two Otsego boys were involved in a snowmobile accident after a sled they were being pulled on hit a tree.

RELATED: Community rallies to support boys seriously injured in Snowmobile Accident

10-year-old Jaden Shaffer remains unconscious in the hospital while his older brother, 13-year-old Jurien Shaffer is now home.

Jaden remains unconscious in the hospital, but his aunt said he has made some progress over the weekend. He is now moving his limbs and opening his eyes a little bit, starting to come out of his coma-like state.

"It is just a waiting game right now, just waiting to see how he will respond and how he will wake up," said Becky Volkers, an aunt to Jurien and Jaden Shaffer.

It has been almost two weeks since the two were sent to the hospital after the sled they were being towed on by a snowmobile hit a tree on a private trail in Allegan County.

"Jurien is home now. He will start PT at home, but he has a long road ahead of him. Jaden, he is off sedation medication and his ventilator, so he is progressing very well. Slow and steady of course," said Volkers.

Jaden remains unconscious at Bronson Methodist Hospital with a brain injury and a pelvis broken in three places, but doctors said the small progress he has made is promising.

"We are not real sure what things will be like when he wakes up. We are still looking at some sort of brain damage, injury. We are just waiting to see when he wakes up what things are going to be like. Just trying to pray him through that," said Volkers.

Jurien has returned home after about a week in the hospital. Volkers said he broke his leg in three different places.

"He has an apparatus on his lower leg so that is going to involve a lot of learning how to get around with that on. He does have a wheelchair at home as well to get around in. It’s just a lot of recovery for him as well," said Volkers.

While the boys continue to recover, the family said they can't thank the community enough for the support they've given them including a vigil held outside the hospital.

"Our whole family is just praising God for his healing hand on the boys and all of their injuries. We have just seen some miraculous work in this. We are just so thankful for the community and for all of their love and support and prayers as well," said Volkers.

While the family does have insurance, they are expecting both physical therapy and rehab bills to be expensive. To help the family, you can make donations on their GoFundMe which will go towards hospital bills.

SEE MORE: DNR urges 'extreme caution' on ice after snowmobiles fall through