Blake's Story

Blake Hyland had two dreams: to become a Navy SEAL, and to become a magician. He was fourteen when both were nearly taken from him.

A fall during gymnastics practice sent his head into a concrete floor, leaving him with a traumatic brain injury. He was rushed to his hometown hospital in Texas, where surgeons operated to relieve bleeding in his brain, removing a portion of his skull to ease the swelling. His doctors put his odds of survival at no better than 50/50, and could not say, if he did survive, how full a life he would be able to lead.

Blake was transferred to Cook Children's Medical Center in Fort Worth, where he spent several weeks sedated and on a ventilator in intensive care before moving to the rehabilitation wing. That is when Operation Magic first heard his story. A friend of the family wrote to us about the boy with two dreams, and about the trip to magic camp his parents had planned as a surprise that summer. Those plans were set aside the day of the accident.

The letter told us something else. A former Navy SEAL had visited Blake's hospital room. A hero from one of his dreams had stood at his bedside, and that visit brought his first smile since the accident, along with his first real show of strength. Blake's future was uncertain; he might never be well enough to attend camp. But the letter asked whether honoring his other dream, and giving him something to look forward to, might lift his spirits and help his recovery. The answer was easy. A boy fighting to recover, still holding on to the dream of magic: this is the very reason Operation Magic exists.

Together with the president of a local Texas magic organization and the team at Cook Children's hospital, we arranged a magic show and award presentation. Blake was presented with the Bob Elliott Scholarship Award: a plaque, and a place at Tannen's Magic Camp for the year of his choosing.

His parents told us they had not seen him so animated or excited since the accident. Blake's own review was "That is awesome." Then he wanted to know how soon he could go.

Blake made it home, and he grew stronger. We are honored to be part of Blake's recovery.