AKRON - While he's spent much of the past three weeks in a coma, Luke Holko hasn't taken any steps back, his mom Nicole emphasized Wednesday.

The 4-year-old - who was hit in the head with a line drive foul ball at a Mahoning Valley Scrappers game - has gone from unconsciousness to blinking, moving his arms and legs and even almost smiling and laughing. Now, time will be the best test as to how fully he will recover, and he's progressing every day, said his mom, of North Bloomfield.

"They might be little steps ... but to him in his situation, they are huge steps," Nicole Holko said. "I've been pretty positive and optimistic. Everyone says you have that motherly instinct. I just always had this feeling I knew he was going to get better."

During a news conference at Akron Children's Hospital Wednesday, the boy's mother and Dr. James Besunder, director of pediatric care there, gave an update on the boy's condition, which has gone from critical to serious but stable. Luke was moved earlier this week from intensive care and is breathing on his own, they said.

Luke Holko was hit in the left back of the head by a baseball during a doubleheader Sept. 2 at Eastwood Field in Niles. The hit caused his skull to fracture and the bone depressed into his brain. He was taken to St. Elizabeth Health Center in Youngstown, underwent surgery, and was then taken to Akron. He's expected to be transferred to a rehabilitation facility possibly in the next week.

According to Besunder, Luke's injuries were to his brain stem, which controls involuntary actions like breathing and heartbeats and is a relay station for the senses. Swelling to Luke's brain has gone away, but while messages now are getting to Luke's brain, they are not fully getting back out to his body.

Luke is healing, said Besunder, and tests show that his brain stem is recovering. There are no tests that can predict his condition six months or a year from now, he said, and it's too early to tell if he will recover 100 percent.

"Time will give us the answer to that question," Besunder said. "His recovery has been very positive. After three weeks, to see Luke where he is at right now is very encouraging."

Meanwhile, Nicole Holko said her son is aware of his family and, while he can't talk, can hear them. She said he seems to blink in response to their questions.

"We've been treating him like he's normal and that he's awake and aware of everything," she said. "We tell him ... his head got hurt and the doctors are fixing it ... and we're there to make it better. And that he does not have to be scared .... and is in a place where everyone cares for him and is going to make him better."

It's rare that someone is not with him, said Nicole Holko, who added she's gotten messages of well wishes not only locally, but from people in other states and even countries along with from the Scrappers, the Cleveland Indians and the Akron Aeros.

When contacted Wednesday, Dave Smith, general manager for the Scrappers, said the team has stayed in touch with the family and has helped with a number of fundraisers through the end of the season.

"Obviously, we're keeping in tune with updates ... and like everyone else are hoping for a positive recovery," he said.

Nicole Holko thanked the community for their prayers and fundraisers and said she is optimistic.

"At times I was scared but focused on all the positive things because I knew he needed the positive energy in that room," said Nicole Holko.

dloreno@tribtoday.com