Nick gets to go home today,
sleep in his own bed with his own TV,
and he's been asking for a steak
dinner for a couple weeks now.
And you bet we're going to
get a mistake dinner tonight
is that some here in Louisville
thought they may never hear abot
Officer Nicholas Wilt today.
A very happy day.
He's finally going home after he was shot
during the old National Bank shooting.
And today we will have two
opportunities to see him.
Just about 15 minutes ago we
heard from officials as they
talked about his recovery,
rehab and discharge from the Frr
Rehabilitation Institution as wl
as Officer Wilt's twin brother.
At any moment now we will he wil
be leaving the Fraser and headig
to Southeast Christian Church on
Blankenbaker where a community
procession is waiting for him.
Now we have team coverage of
both of those events.
Our Shane McAllister is out
at the Fraser right now,
Alexis Jones is out at Southeasd
we will plan to begin over at te
rehabilitation institution with Shay now.
Shay, you just listened to that press
conference and watched his offi.
Wilton is getting ready to leave
hospital 109 days after that shooting.
Jim, it's just remarkable.
Isn't Today was a day that
certainly was never guaranteed.
Many had hoped for it.
Many more had prayed for it.
His family tells us they were
sure that this day would come.
But even doctors answering some
really difficult questions today
say when he came into the emergy
room with a bullet in his skull,
they were unsure that
he would ever walk away.
We were able to get some clarity on his
prognosis and he is doing very, very well.
Over the last several weeks he
has learned how to swallow,
how to stand, how to walk there.
We're told that it is his will to survive,
his will to recover that
has pushed him this far.
The reality is this is just a
step in the right direction.
This recovery will take some ti.
He will continue treatment right
here at Fraser five days a week,
starting next week.
He needs to still get a lot
of leg strength back to walk.
He'll be doing occupational
therapy to learn how to do thins
like brush his teeth and use the
restroom and get dressed.
He'll also continue speech ther,
though we're told he is speaking today.
There will be longterm deficits.
There could be signs of the
traumatic brain injury, though.
The doctor says there's no limio
the potential of what he can achieve,
which is just remarkable.
I asked the police chief if shes
talked to Officer Wilt about
a future in police work.
She said no,
she said that hasn't come up just yet,
but yesterday he did say thank you, chief,
when she was visiting him, she .
That moment was huge for her,
and as you can imagine,
this officer is just so ready to go home.
You heard his brother.
He's been asking for a steak di.
The mayor also said he loves the
show Bar Rescue and he's ready t
to sit on his couch and enjoy i.
The
progress that Nick's made,
they tell us it's a long road,
It's a marathon. But Nick,
every single day has been ready to go.
Just a few days ago one of the
therapists told us she's been pulling
teeth to get people out of bed,
to get people to do what they
need to do to heal and those loe
only been here for a few weeks.
Nick has been here now two mont.
He's in his chair ready to go and out
the door he goes with the therat
and it's he is that and that's
just the type of person and he'l
probably be embarrassed that I y
this but his little catch phrase
when we wheel him out of out ofs
room he goes what's a boogie woe
like he is he's ready to go and
that is that's just his mentali.
He is ready to go.
He wants to get back to it.
He was a 26 year old,
very active helping young man ad
he is going to get back to that
and everyone believes
that wholeheartedly here.
It was also a bit of an emotional update.
The CEO of old National Bank
Jim Ryan brought to tears.
He had to pause multiple times saying
the last few months have been v,
very difficult for this Louisvie
team moving to a new building,
losing multiple team members.
But he says today is the
day of answered prayers.
So what comes next will?
Any moment now, Officer Nick Wit
will be loaded into an elevator.
He'll be in a wheelchair heading down
here to the first floor of Fraser Rehab,
where he will be wheeled out to
his family's car and sent home.
We've already seen a photo of h.
He was smiling.
We're told that the hallway will be quiet,
though,
because with the traumatic brain injury,
a lot of stimulation still realy
isn't good for the officer.
However, lots of silent cheers,
lots of smiles expected here at
Fraser Rehab and we are certainy
excited to see this major,
major milestone.
So for now,
I'll send it back to you in the studio.
Jim and.