SAN ANTONIO -- Nine months ago, 5-year-old Kenny Hudnall suffered a severe spinal injury when the car he was sitting in was struck from behind. Despite his injuries, though, his parents said they know his injuries could have been far worse.

Just before the collision, Kenny had been sitting on the right side of the vehicle's seat, but chose to move to the middle before the crash. Kenny was buckled in with a lap belt in the back seat of the vehicle. That move to the middle may have helped prevent further damage.

"Either one of two things," said Gigi Hudnall, Kenny's mother. "He wouldn't be here at all today or he wouldn't be here with the function that he has."

Kenny's brain wasn't damaged, but ligaments in four vertebrae were severed, causing his muscle control function to nearly cease. He also requires a ventilator to breathe, but movement is slowly returning, his parents said.

Most of his days are spent confined to a bed, but he has been able to use a laptop to begin his education, attending both kindergarten and first grade.

His parents said insurance benefits have covered most of his recuperation costs, but they have organized a casino-themed fundraiser, auction and poker tournament to help them remodel their home to allow Kenny to return to his bedroom and have more easily-accessible facilities. One of the major renovations necessary for Kenny, his mother said, was to be able to move him from the living room where he currently stays into a bedroom. The move could help prevent further illness as he's currently close to the front door of their home.

"We want to be able to provide for him a quality of life," said father David Hudnall.

Gigi Hudnall said Kenny's nursing hours are also being reduced from his current 24-hour care to 116 hours per week, which translates to just under five days per week. His mother said the family was very grateful for his recovery up to this point, thankful God led them to this spot and hopeful for Kenny's continued recovery.

While Kenny's full abilities will take about a year to assess, his parents said they think Kenny will be able to move around with a walker before starting first grade this fall.

Editor's Note: A previous version of this story was unclear as to where Kenny was seated at the time of the crash. A reporting error made it appear Kenny had been standing, when in fact, he had been seated in a different position of the vehicle. This story has also been updated with a clearer account of the fundraiser's benefits to the Hudnall family and Kenny's care. KSAT.com apologizes for the error.

A promotional video for the Saturday fundraiser is below.