Though BMX rider TJ Lavin remains in a medically-induced coma after sustaining critical injuries on Thursday, doctors say the 33-year-old Real World/Road Rules Challenge host's health is "slowly progressing."
Lavin was first hospitalized after failing to get his feet back on his bike pedals mid-air during the Dew Tour Championships in Las Vegas. The event was supposed to be Lavin's final ride as a professional BMX biker.
According to Lavin's pal Chas Aday, doctors took him off sedation for a short time on Saturday to perform a few simple tests before conducting an MRI.
"They didn't see any further brain damage or anything but there's still some swelling there," Aday told MTV on Sunday. "They took him off the sedation this morning completely, but he's still unconscious."
In a text message obtained by ESPN, Lavin's mother Barbara says that her son "moved his hands around and gave the docs a thumbs up. He is not conscious."
Lavin — who suffered brain bleeding, a broken wrist and an orbital fracture — also has a slight fever and pneumonia; Aday says Lavin has been placed on antibiotics.
Though the sedation will take some time to wear off, Aday says doctors have said it is too soon to tell whether the accident will have long-term effects on Lavin's brain functionality.
"I don't think we're gonna know any of that until he wakes up and they can evaluate him from there," he said. "It's going to be a long recovery for him."
