4-year-old injured in Halloween hit-and-run returns home after 4-month stay in hospital

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. (WBRC/Gray News) - A little boy is finally out of the hospital after being critically injured in a hit-and-run on Halloween 2023.

He’s still got a long way to go in his recovery, but his family gave an update to Steven “King” Allen’s story.

“We had a parade for him after he left,” said King’s mother, Anita Brunner. “He had a chance to go and meet with the people that actually had him first, which was PICU, so we went downstairs to visit them.”

A hit-and-run left the 4-year-old in critical condition while he was trick-or-treating on Halloween night. Four months later, King and his parents are finally home together.

“He keeps talking about he wants me to cook him some spaghetti, so I guess when we’re done, I’ll whip up some spaghetti,” said Steven Allen, King’s father.

King still has severe injuries to his spine and has a long road to recovery.

When asked what he wanted to do first now that he’s out of the hospital, King replied, “Go to P.T!”

“He doesn’t have control over his legs,” Brunner said. “That doesn’t mean it’s permanent because we’re hopeful that he’s going to gain control back over his legs with the physical therapy, P.T.”

It’s not been an easy journey for King’s parents either after his mom said she was let go from her job.

“I have been on FML since Halloween and they only allow 12 weeks, so I was basically told that if I couldn’t come back on the 22nd, that my job was no longer secure,” Brunner said.

But they say the outpouring of support from the community for the last four months has been overwhelming.

“If it was one thing I could tell them, I would tell them that I’m praying that God gives them whatever their hearts desire because they’re here for us and they definitely need a blessing in return,” Brunner said.

King’s parents say they’re choosing to count their blessings instead of focusing on the challenges that lie ahead.

“I lost my job, but then in the same note, I get to be with this guy all the time,” said Brunner.

A GoFundMe was set up for King and his family.

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