Teachers at Foot of Ten Elementary — where all three Jimenez boys attended — pitched the idea for the districtwide spirit day to celebrate Antonio Jimenez’s return from UPMC Children’s Hospital earlier this month.

Jimenez spent two months at the Pittsburgh pediatric hospital after he suddenly lost the ability to feel or move his legs on Aug. 1, according to his mother, Antonella Jimenez.

Antonio went for a bike ride with friends that morning despite feeling “tightness in his back,” where over the next two and a half hours a progressive sensation of numbness spread down his legs, prompting his mother to call 911.

After several rounds of diagnostic testing, UPMC doctors determined the cause of Antonio’s sudden loss of motor function to be a T6 A/B spinal stroke, a rare condition caused by a temporary interruption of blood flow to the spine that can cause lifelong impairment.

Foot of Ten Elementary teachers and staff show their support for former student Antonio Jimenez, who is recovering from a spinal stroke. Courtesy photo

Antonio’s hospital stay in Pittsburgh turned life upside down for the Jimenez family, who are often busy managing Nicoletta’s Family Restaurant on Eighth Avenue in Altoona or at Dino’s Pizza in the Logan Valley Mall and taking care of J.J. and Julio, Antonio’s two brothers.

Antonella and her husband, Jason, spent the first few weeks in the hospital with Antonio, either staying overnight in Ronald McDonald House accommodations or making the two-hour drive to see their son.

Antonella cites the “above and beyond” support from UPMC, Ronald McDonald

House staff and their extended family for helping her family survive while Antonio received treatment.

Doctors at UPMC were unsure if Antonio would ever be able to walk again, Jimenez said, but he has made remarkable progress over the past two and a half months and is now able to stand with the use of a walker and is slowly regaining the ability to move his legs.

Antonio Jimenez receives a visit from members of the Savannah Bananas during his stay at UPMC Children’s Hospital in Pittsburgh following a spinal stroke in August. Courtesy photo

“He’s come a long way, he can move around more now,” Jimenez said. “He’s so strong-minded, positive and resilient; he’s determined to walk again.”

According to Jimenez, Antonio has been diligently working through a comprehensive course of rehabilitative treatments to recover from his stroke.

An avid multi-sport athlete, Antonio is set on returning to playing baseball, his favorite sport, once he completes his ongoing course of occupational and physical therapy to regain the use of his legs.

“I didn’t really know or understand what was happening at first, but I could feel how many people cared about me,” Antonio Jimenez said. “Every message, visit, prayer and gift made me feel stronger.”

Antonio expressed his gratitude for the outpouring of support from his classmates, teachers and neighbors throughout his recovery process.

Antonio Jimenez’s family (from left) Antonio, mother, Antonella, brothers Julio and J.J. and father, Jason, are appreciative of the support they’ve received as he continues to recover. Courtesy photo

“Some days are hard, but knowing so many people believe in me keeps me trying. I’m really thankful for my family, my friends, my teachers, my community and everyone who’s been cheering me on,” he said.

Antonio is expected to attend 15 to 18 months of further therapy, according to his mom.

Despite the challenging road ahead, it is a “huge relief” for the entire family to have Antonio home from the hospital and making progress in his recovery, she said.

Since his stroke, the Hollidaysburg community has come together to show support for Antonio, with friends and family making a range of Italian-themed shirts, buttons and stickers to raise awareness of his situation.

“It’s so heartwarming to see the community’s support for Antonio,” Antonella Jimenez said.

Former Pittsburgh Steelers linebacker Ryan Shazier takes a picture with Antonio Jimenez during his recovery at UPMC Children’s Hospital in Pittsburgh. Courtesy photo

According to Hollidaysburg Senior High Principal Breanne Venios, the district community is very close-knit, viewing its people as its “No.1 priority.”

“We want to take care of our people … if someone is in need, medically or financially or in need of moral support, I’ve seen this community come together for all sorts of things and bringing it into the schools just amplifies it into the community,” Venios said.

Mirror Staff Writer Conner Goetz is at 814-946-7535.