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WAUWATOSA - Finally some good news for the Harper family.  Four year old David "D.J." Harper has been upgraded from critical to serious condition at Children's Hospital.  But he still has a very long road ahead of him.

James "Chris" Harper's eyes teared up as he talked about his son's injuries.

"He can't open his eyes.  He can't talk.  He's got a breathing tube in his throat.  And I just don't know how long it's going to be until I can wake him up and hold him," Harper said.

David was seriously burned after getting trapped inside this burning SUV.  His mother Angie and two year old sister Beverly escaped without injuries.  Mom cried as James publicly thanked everyone who saved his family.

"I just want to thank the staff of the hospital and the citizens of Milwaukee and everybody.  There's no words that can express how grateful I am," Harper said.

It's especially hard because the family has been through tough times before.  David was born premature and spent the first 64 days of his life in intensive care.

"He's a fighter," Harper said.  "He's my miracle baby."

"There's definitely a purpose for this child I believe now," David's grandmother Deborah Jones said.  "To have to go through this, there's definitely a purpose I believe."

Now the family will move from Tennessee to be with David.  He will spend the next six months at Children's Hospital.  The family was in Wisconsin because James lost his job last month, and found temporary work at the Waukesha County Fair.  The crash happened just 48 hours after they got here.

"Everybody has been real helpful to us and we just need alot of prayers right now.  Alot of prayers," Harper said.

Harper said David will undergo the first of several surgeries Wednesday.

The family set up a fund to help with David's mounting medical bills.  If you are interested in donating, go to any US Bank, and ask to donate to the David Harper fund.