Dec 21, 2007 - 05:00 PM

By Melissa Mancini

OSHAWA -- A local teenage boy's family is reeling from a "Christmas nightmare" after the 15-year-old high school wrestler suffered a catastrophic injury while competing in a meet in Ajax earlier this month.

The Central Collegiate student, Michael Box, was left with a snapped vertebrae and severed spinal cord. He has been in hospital at Sick Kids in Toronto receiving treatment and is expected to be there for months to come.

Details about what caused the injury are unclear but investigations are ongoing to determine exactly what happened.

Meanwhile, Michael is facing extremely serious health consequences said his father, Scott, who has been at his bedside since the accident.

"This has hit this child, who used to be a strong athlete, extremely hard," said Mr. Box. He said the situation has been a "Christmas nightmare" for his family and added his No. 1 concern now is Michael's health.

Michael's injuries are so severe Mr. Box said doctors have told him his son's life was saved only because of his athletic build. Mr. Box said Michael recently won gold at an Ontario taekwondo tournament.

Since being admitted to hospital the right side of the teen's diaphragm hasn't been working, he has a collapsed lung, pneumonia and has had multiple heart failures. Mr. Box said the doctors are hoping to be able to operate soon once Michael is stabilized so they can fuse together two of his vertebrae. He said the doctors have told him that on a scale of one to 10, Michael's injuries are a 10.

Michael's mother, Loretta Hughes, has also been at his bedside though she is eight months pregnant and has been having labour pains because of the anxiety. She has been advised by her doctors to only make the trip to Toronto to visit her son every second day to avoid early labour.

But she says the experience has been heart-rending. "It eats at me not to be able to go every day," said Ms. Hughes.

Michael's hard fight is far from over. Mr. Box said doctors are predicting Michael will spend three more months at Sick Kids and will then be transferred to Bloorview Kids Rehab hospital in Toronto where he could spend two years. Michael's parents said the staff at Sick Kids have been amazing.

"I can't even begin to say enough about the staff," said Ms. Hughes. "They are the best in the world, they have been so good to us."

Ms. Hughes said Michael's friends have been visiting and that is keeping his spirits up during this very difficult time.

Mr. Box said support from the community has been overwhelming. The Tim Hortons outlet at King Street East and Drew Street has donated money to the family. The Oshawa Holiday Inn has donated a room for Mr. Box to stay in while he is in Toronto. Half of the proceeds from a fundraiser on Jan. 1 where Ajax residents will take a dip in Lake Ontario will go towards a wheelchair for Michael. And there has been a trust fund set up in Michael's name at the Bank of Montreal with the account number 39412-001-8116279.

"This is not your regular 15-year-old," said Mr. Box. "He is a good student, a child that would help out his neighbour in any situation and an athlete that has always represented his community.

"I want Michael to eventually be able to come home with a smile on his face," said Mr. Box who is worried about the future. He plans to retrofit his new home on Pompano Court so that his son will be able to get around comfortably.