MASSACHUSETTS FIREFIGHTER ON ROAD BACK

When Milton firefighter Antonio Pickens was raced to Beth Israel Trauma Center in July after being struck by an alleged three-time drunken driver while helping an accident victim, his family faced the most painful decision of all.

For more than 20 minutes Pickens did not get blood to his brain and doctors at the hospital said that in thousands of similar cases they have seen, never had anyone recovered after such a long time without blood to the brain.

‘‘There was pressure to let him go,’’ said Lt. John ‘‘Jack’’ Grant. ‘‘He wasn’t expected to make it.’’ The loss of blood almost killed him, but Pickens’ family would not give up on him and he is fighting to beat the odds.

Pickens, 44, the father of two teenagers, nearly had his right arm severed, his legs were shattered, his chest crushed and an artery in his thigh was sliced open. ‘‘He has a long way to go, but they’re calling him the miracle man at the hospital,’’ Grant said.

The 12-year-veteran recognizes and speaks to his wife, Marilyn, his two children and many of the Milton firefighters who visit him regularly. ‘‘He said ‘Hi’ to me,’’ Grant said, as he choked back a lump in his throat. Sometimes, Grant said, when Pickens talks with his wife and children he gets their names mixed up, and says, ‘‘I’m all messed up.’’

‘‘It’s like the puzzle pieces in the box,’’ Grant said. ‘‘All the pieces are there, he just has to put the puzzle together.’’ Pickens is weak, Grant said, and an amplifier has been attached so that when he speaks it is easier to hear what he says.

About a month ago Pickens was moved to Kindred Hospital, an acute rehabilitation facility in Braintree. This past week he was back at Beth Israel for skin grafts to close leg wounds. He was expected to be at Beth Israel for about a week.

In July, while Pickens was at the Atherton Street fire station on Route 138, there was a minor car crash at an intersection across the street. Pickens ran out to help and while he was aiding one of the victims, a Buick LeSabre driven by C.W. Tolbert slammed into him, rocketing him into the road about 70 feet away, police said.

Tolbert, 46, of Stoughton, a father of four, has been in jail since the accident and is charged with his third drunk-driving offense and negligent drunken driving causing serious bodily injury. Bail has been set at $7,500, but his family has not been able to pay it. He is expected in Norfolk County Superior Court on Nov. 30 for a pretrial hearing.