12-Year-Old Who Was Hit In Head With Baseball Finally Returns Home To Westfield

WESTFIELD, NJ — After suffering from a serious head injury and landing in the hospital for over a month, 12-year-old Anthony Labin returned home to Westfield on Thursday.

Labin was shown a warm welcome by the Westfield Police Department, Fire Department and Volunteer Rescue Squad, along with his friends, family and neighbors.

Labin's accident occurred while competing with his traveling baseball team in Cooperstown, New York on July 11. Labin was pitching when a batter returned line drive straight to his temple, knocking him unconscious.

He was then airlifted to Albany Medical Center, where he was admitted to the pediatric intensive care unit, according to the Westfield Leader.

During his five weeks of recovery, Labin underwent surgery at Albany Med and physical therapy at Children's Specialized Hospital in New Brunswick, police said.

According to Tapinto, Labin was diagnosed with aphasia, which is a condition that impacts the ability to understand and express speech, but the family hopes for a complete recovery.

Roger Askins, Labin's coach, told Westfield Leader that an ambulance did not arrive for at least 45 minutes after the accident and that it was "handled really poorly."

You can read the full story from the Leader here.

Police said upon his arrival home Thursday, Labin was presented with a Westfield Police Department baseball jersey.

"We wish Anthony continued success on his recovery," Westfield Police wrote.

Check out the full Facebook post here.

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