By Bill Miller, September 4, 2004

DALLAS - The life of 15-year-old Nick Stout, from his days as a spirited athlete to his excruciating but limited recovery from the 2002 Terrell bus crash, unfolded Friday before a Dallas County jury.

Stout is one of 15 survivors who have sued Eric Rockmore, owner of the charter bus that crashed into a concrete bridge pillar, killing five people and seriously injuring dozens.

Testimony from Stout's father, Don, capped the second week of Rockmore's negligence trial.

On Friday, Don Stout recounted his son's drawn-out comeback from a traumatic brain injury, a compound fracture of his right leg, and chemical burns that destroyed his left ear and scarred his hands.

He said Nick was so badly injured that doctors warned several times that he might die, especially when an infection in his leg spread to his bloodstream.

"I remember them saying, 'Mr. Stout, you better not go home tonight. We've done all we can do; now he's got to show up for himself.'

"He did."

Nick survived the infection, and, after three weeks, his family knew he was emerging from the coma when he started to twitch while undergoing the painful process of having his wounds cleaned.

He regained consciousness, but Dr. George Wharton, who evaluated the boy's condition for the trial, testified through a deposition that Nick has the mental capacity of a third-grader. Wharton said he believes the boy will never drive, work in a competitive job market or get married.

"Someone is going to have to look out for him and protect him from the dangers of life on a minute-to-minute basis," Wharton said.

The jury watched a compilation of home videos of Nick, juxtaposed with footage of his recovery. Included were scenes of him charging across a Gulf Coast beach and making key tackles on his YMCA football team.

But on another part of the tape, a therapist asks Nick to name different types of dogs.

Slowly, he says, "There ... are ... Rot ... wi ... lers ... and ... Lab ... ra ... doors ... and ..."

Nick, racked with frustration, drops his head for a few seconds, then stammers, "Poo ... dills."

Don Stout's voice wavered as he described how Nick's little sister, Izzi, was neglected while he and his wife, Joan, focused on her brother.

"In fairness, Joan has been past the point of breaking for a very long time," he said. "We're going to do the best we can.

"I just don't know how much longer we can do it."

Rockmore's attorney, Rob Miller, chose not to question the father until the trial resumes Tuesday.