Officer heads home for holidays after accident

HOLLYWOOD, Fla. (WSVN) -- A South Florida police officer injured during a traffic stop is going home for the holidays.

Hollywood Police officer Armando Silva walked out of Memorial Regional Hospital South Friday afternoon for the first time in weeks, just in time for Christmas. "We are going to take my dad home in a limo, and we are gonna go get ice cream," said Silva's son Spencer.

Silva was involved in a bad car accident on Oct. 29 when he attempted to pull over two speeding motorcycles and somehow lost control and crashed.

When Silva first arrived at the hospital, doctors said he couldn't walk, talk or eat on his own. "He wound up having a severe traumatic brain injury," said Rehab Director Dr. Alan Novick.

All of Silva's friends and family were cheering him on as he left the hospital. "He's progressing, and we are very fortunate to be moving forward," said Silva's wife Robin.

"Considering when he came here, he was unable to walk or unable to speak," said Dr. Novick. "It's tremendous progress, but he still has a road to go."

Robin said having him back home is the best Christmas gift ever. "It's been a difficult and painful journey, but we are here, and we are very fortunate to be where we are at right now," she said. "This is probably the best Christmas present ever."

Silva has a long road to recovery. He will now undergo out-patient rehabilitation and speech therapy.

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