Sam Bellett was riding his bike to cross country practice early one morning in the summer of 2011 when he was struck by an SUV.

The 16-year-old was rushed to TraumaOne at UF Health Jacksonville with a severe brain injury, fractured skull, broken leg and numerous internal injuries. He was placed in a medically induced coma and then required months of rehabilitation. His junior year of school went on without him.

But Sam, an academic, was determined to make up for lost time. He worked hard to rehabilitate not only his body, but his mind. Defying everyone’s expectations, he managed to overcome his brain injury and continue in the rigorous Cambridge Advanced International Certificate of Education (AICE) program at his high school.

When Sam was honored at UF Health Jacksonville’s annual A Night for Heroes gala in 2013, he was just months away from finishing his senior year.

Sam went on to graduate from Mandarin High School on time with the rest of his class. He received a National Honor Society Diploma as well as his AICE Diploma. He was also accepted into the college he’d always dreamed of attending: Ohio State University.

He is pursuing a degree in engineering.

Sam is not able to run, but he has started riding his bicycle again around campus.

“We miss him dearly, but we keep in touch and even FaceTime him, and he seems to be doing well and enjoying life,” said his mother Maisie Bellett.

Here is the video of Sam and his family that was made for the 2013 A Night for Heroes gala: 

This story is an installment in our “Where are they now?” series of updates on some of our best- known patients from years past. You can read the rest of our updates by clicking on any one of the links below:

ATV crash victim overcame head trauma and became a teacher

Patient goes from fractured skull to swimming pools and roller coasters

Little boy in four-wheeler crash now a 6-foot-4 hunting enthusiast

Patient who couldn’t open eyes or speak is back to outdoorsy lifestyle

Growing leg prosthesis recipient now in college