Alberta Minister Jason Nixon’s son released from hospital after car crash

After being involved in a serious rollover car crash in December, the teenage son of Alberta’s Minister of Seniors, Community, and Social Services has finally been released from the Alberta Children’s Hospital.

Jason Nixon and his wife Tiffany shared the news on X Saturday, stating his 16-year-old son Austin, who was in critical condition and in intensive care following a car accident, is on the road to recovery after his release.

Austin and his twin sister, Chyanne, were on a road south of Sundre when they were involved in a single-vehicle crash on Dec. 1. Chyanne walked away with minor injuries.

However, Nixon’s son remained in a coma for the next few weeks.

“The weeks that Austin was in a coma were by far the worst of our lives, and the possibility that Austin would never wake up was overwhelming to our family. However, through the support of exceptional health care workers, our family, friends, and thousands of prayer warriors, Austin fought to come back to us,” Nixon’s post reads.

“The day that he woke up from his coma is a day that we will celebrate for the rest of our lives. While we knew the journey ahead would be long we were grateful that we would have the chance to support him.”

Nixon said his son was released from the Alberta Children’s Hospital the weekend before the announcement and has been in rehabilitation.

“Every day, we are amazed by Austin’s progress. He has fought every step of the way, starting with learning to move again, and to speak, then to learning to walk and care for himself. Now he is moving on to the next stage of his recovery and we know he is up to the task,” Nixon’s post reads.

“There will be many challenges ahead, including regaining the ability to eat and adjusting back to school. But we could not be more proud of Austin’s determination through this process and we are confident he will fully recover.

“Austin, and our entire family, have a long road ahead to fully recover from what happened on December 1. But through the support of countless people from the first moments at the accident scene, to the ICU, to the recovery unit, and now Austin’s long term recovery program, we are able to walk the path ahead with the incredible medical team who has dedicated themselves to supporting our son.”

The post concludes with him thanking everyone for their support and prayers.

Nixon had taken time off following the incident in December, where Minister of Mental Health and Addictions Dan Williams supported him in his role.

With files from Lauryn Heintz