Posted Tuesday, August 19 --- 5:15pm

"All I had time to tell him was I love you and fight if you can," Kim Cabrera says.

A Friday night out with friends changes a Janesville teen forever.

Now, the 17-year old and his mother want others to hear their message after a stunt with friends changed the teen's life.

"You're going to read the directions and follow them."

17-year-old Nathan Rosenow is re-learning lots of things these days.

"I got lists for what to do," Rosenow says.

"He needs lots of cues and reminders for what he's supposed to do at what time. He still needs 24-hour supervision," Kim Cabrera says.

But, three and a half months ago, Nathan's mother was worried she would lose her eldest son.

"The 1st night, I had no hope," Cabrera says, "Second day, no hope, no hope at all."

"I was planning a funeral and how much green would be involved because green is his favorite color," she says.

Today, Kim Cabrera wears a green bracelet in support of her son, who's recovering from a brain injury.

"He's been on the honor roll. He's worked a job, never absent. I think maybe he missed one day of work in a year, bought his own truck."

But this Spring, Rosenow spent three weeks in a coma.

"All's I remember, is a couple of days I was here, then I was out. And that's all I remember," he says.

Rosenow was injured back in May, when police say he was car surfing in this parking lot and fell. The driver, a friend of his, is charged in the incident.

"I think they both could've made better choices. I get stuck in that Nathan's been essentially given a life sentence because of his choice."
It's a choice Cabrera wants other teens to avoid.

"This was a typical Friday night activity in that they'd all be at the bowling alley. It was not typical for them to be messing around at this extent, good kids make bad choices."

Rosenow is making gains with his therapy three times a week. Today, he's practicing a 3-step activity -- making pasta.

"He recalled today that we made mac and cheese last week," his occupational therapist says.

But he still has problems with his short term memory.

"This is like my 1st time making this."

"Is it?"

Rosenow will head back to Parker High School in a couple of weeks as a senior.

"I'd like to graduate."

A celebration and fundraiser is being planned for the family in October.

Kim Cabrera also was diagnosed with M-S last year. The family's selling bracelets and coupon books as well. If you'd like to help, contact Kathy Hoppe at 608-359-3089 or Brian Hoppe 608-289-4506.