Nearly four months after 12-year-old Xavier Taylor was critically injured in a baseball-field accident, his family continues to hold onto hope as he makes gradual progress in his recovery.

Xavier was struck by a baseball during warmups in Maple Shade, New Jersey, on May 26. He was rushed to Cooper University Hospital and has remained on a ventilator as his family and community have continued to support him.

In a September update, Xavier’s father, Gregory Taylor, said the family was seeing encouraging physical changes. He reported that Xavier had gained weight, was regulating his own body temperature and was no longer receiving regular medication aside from necessary nutritional support.

Xavier has also been moved from the hospital to a short-term care facility, where his recovery continues. His father said the family remains confident that the boy they know is still there and continues to hope that he will eventually wake up.

The journey has been long and uncertain, but Xavier’s family says the support from teammates, neighbors and people across the country has helped them keep going.

For now, every sign of progress remains deeply meaningful to the family as they continue waiting and hoping for the day Xavier can return to the life he loves.

Source: ABC News, CBS Philadelphia