http://www.azcentral.com/arizonarepublic/suncities/articles/0529miracle0529Z1.html 'Miracle Boy' is recovering Brent Whiting/The Arizona Republic Ricky Barker arrives at Maryvale Baseball Park for a graduation ceremony for his eighth-grade class. Victim expects to walk someday Brent Whiting The Arizona Republic May. 29, 2004 12:00 AM Ricky Barker, a 13-year-old spinal-injury patient, is making such an amazing recovery that angels must encircle him. At least that's the non-scientific way of explaining why Ricky is doing so well, said Dan Donahue, a Phoenix fire captain who helped rescue Ricky after an April 10 traffic crash. "I've been waiting 18 years to see somebody survive something like this," Donahue said. "I just want to touch him. He's surrounded by angels." Donahue also said there's a more scientific explanation for Ricky's medical progress. Much of the credit goes to luck and the expert care that paramedics, surgeons and nurses provided after Ricky was struck by a car while riding his bicycle near his home, he said. Doctors said Ricky suffered an "internal decapitation," meaning his skull was severed from the top of his spine. . . .
