At two-and-a-half years old, Brycen Garnett is an eager and rambunctious toddler.
From toy trucks to soccer balls, the family living room is his domain.
"He's talking up a storm, and he's about to start running! We can feel it," laughs his mom, Jame Garnett.
But less than two years ago, Brycen's parents didn't know if their son would get to this point.
At 11 months old, just when Brycen was learning to walk, he landed in the hospital with seizures and later, in a coma.
A short while later doctors declared Brycen was at least temporarily paralyzed from the neuroinvasive form of the West Nile virus.
"They knew he was alive, but they didn't know if he would ever move again," Jame Garnett said.
Local
The latest news from around North Texas.
The North Texas mother detailed the scariest point during that time period.
"Probably when the doctor came in and said we need to pray. I think we both just lost it and didn't know what to do anymore," she said.
Over time, Brycen began to open his eyes, then move his arms.
His legs proved to be the biggest challenge.
But eventually, Brycen began to move those as well.
"His right leg has progressed so much. That's the one that was affected the most. He had to have a surgery on his Achilles to make his foot flat again," said his father, Steven Garnett.
Now, Brycen can run and keep up with his big sister.
But his parents want what happened to him to be a warning about the all-too real dangers of the West Nile virus.
"I mean, I would say as much as you can, protect yourself. Spray in the community. Getting people on board to start spraying. Even spaying your house, because you can spray inside and outside now," said Jame Garnett.
As for Brycen's future, the virus that once made him so weak has now given him his biggest strength.
"Hey, you went through this. You fought this. You're a lough little kid. If you can go through this, you can go through anything," said Steven Garnett.
