Back on his skates after a bout with encephalitis

Kevin Hang is happy to put the hockey gear on again. He's played hockey for half of his young life.

He's part of the Junior Stars, but after being diagnosed with a rare form of encephalitis -- he hasn't played since November.

Today, his therapists at Madonna Rehabilitation Hospital coordinated with Kevin's coach and several of his teammates to have a skating birthday party for his seventh birthday.

Lincoln Stars' mascot Comet was also on hand to add to the fun.

While Mom spent a worrisome holiday season with Kevin hospitalized in both Lincoln and Omaha for nearly three months, today's skating event was uplifting.

"After you have a kid totally paralyzed, almost dying, and all of the sudden you see him running around and you see him start to smile again . . .that is so precious."

Kevin has bigger goals that just recovering from this disease. "I want to play on the Olympic (hockey) team."