MIAMI (CBS4) When Vicky Bonilla looks into her 3-year-old son Andrews eyes, she sees his desire to communicate like he used to.

The neurologist and therapists tell me that he is more aware than what he is able to express and at times he gets frustrated because he cannot express what he wants, Vicky told CBS4s Natalia Zea.

When his older siblings play peekaboo with him they see glimmers of who Andrew used to be.

Andrew was born with digestive issues, but functioned like any other toddler.

He would walk, talk, play like a regular little boy did, said Bonilla through tears.

And he was his dad Tito Bonillas sidekick.

He would do everything with me. He knew everybodys names. He knew mommy, pappi, he knew the color of your car. He knew everything. It was just amazing, he was so smart, said Tito.

Everything changed in January of 2012. At 2 years old, Andrew went into an emergency room, one of many visits for his digestive problems. But this time, he went into septic shock. Infection took over his body and he flat lined in front of his mom.

I had him on his side, I had his hand on his chest and I felt his heart stop, that denial of No, this is not happening, this is really not happening, Vicky recalled.

Medical staff revived Andrew, but the lack of oxygen caused brain damage and left him severely impaired.

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