Jul 12, 2008 6:20 pm US/Central
Cubs Fan With Skull Fracture Is Improving
Lilly, Derek Lee Visit Boy in Hospital Saturday
CHICAGO (CBS) ―
The boy who suffered a skull fracture after he was hit in the head with a foul ball at a Cubs game is improving, as CBS 2's Mike Puccinelli reports.
Thursday's game was supposed to be memorable for Dominic DiAngi because it was his first Cubs game. But instead the 7-year-old from Frankfort ended up at Children's Memorial Hospital fighting for his life.
"I was really worried about him for the first 12 hours or so -- he had a blood clot on the outside of his brain; he had a skull fracture," said pediatric neurosurgeon Dr. Tord Alden.
DiAngi wasn't breathing properly so he was put into a medically induced coma. But due to intensive treatment and his fighting spirit doctors say he now appears to have turned the corner.
"He's actually doing quite well, he's off the breathing machine right now he's awake alert talking with me. He's really come a long way from when he got here," Alden said.
He got there after Cubs pitcher Ted Lilly fouled off a ball into DiAngi's head.
For the first two innings, the Frankfort boy was having a blast.
Dominic was sitting with his father and older brother in a lower-level seat off third base. Dominic's father, Peter DiAngi, said he had originally been sitting in Dominic's seat, but the two switched places shortly before the boy was struck.
"The ball was coming right at him, and I thought it was going to go over his head, but apparently he might have stood up at the wrong time," Peter DiAngi said. "As soon as it happened, I just turned around and said 'Oh, my God' and scooped him up."
DiAngi tried to administer CPR to his unconscious son while running with him to the concourse, where he was helped by Cubs staff and paramedics. At that time, Dominic's breathing was thready and his eyes had rolled back in his head, DiAngi said.
"I was panicking, because I just knew that this was not a good sign," he said. "I thought somehow it had been my fault."
"This is a kid who just lives, eats and breathes baseball," Peter DiAngi said. "He just wanted to make sure he got to his first big-league game. It was supposed to be a great day for him."
Cubs spokesman Peter Chase wished Dominic "a speedy recovery."
The team and several players are sending their well wishes to Dominic and his family.
Lilly was concerned after Thursday¹s game when told by reporters that a child had been injured.
"Did it hit a kid -- that foul ball? Oh. I didn't even notice that. I wasn't sure where it was," Lilly said. "Hopefully, he's OK."
Chase said Lilly is looking forward to visiting Dominic and his family, but he wishes to do so privately without media attention. Lilly and Derek Lee stopped by the hospital for a visit with DiAngi Saturday evening.
Dominic did end up getting a keepsake from the game: the ball that hit him.
A man sitting a few rows behind Dominic found the ball and offered it to his father.
"Dominic won¹t let go of the ball," his dad said. "He's holding onto that ball right now."
Saturday, the team dropped off autographed jerseys, bats and gloves along with other souvenirs. In a statement the Cubs organization said: "We hope he will make a speedy recovery and we look forward to welcoming him back to Wrigley field as soon as he is ready."
During Saturday's game announcers gave a shout out to the young boy recovering in the hospital.
Alden says right now Dominic's long term prognosis is excellent. He doesn't forsee any permanent speech and language problems resulting from the injury. But he said it will take six months before he can know for sure.
Dominic DiAngi is expected to go home early next week. According to Children's Memorial Public Affairs Director Julie Pesch, he is expected to be transferred from the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) later Saturday.
It's at least the second time in two months that a child has been struck in the head by an errant ball at a Chicago baseball game.
Last month, 9-year-old Griffin Cox of Glen Ellyn was hit by a batting practice line-drive at a June 4 White Sox game. He, too, received skull fractures and is recovering.
CBS 2 and The STNG Wire contributed to this report.
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