DALTON, Ga. — After what Jalen Storey describes as a “long week and a half,” his son Zayden, 4, is ” finally getting back to himself.”

Zayden is recovering at Children’s Hospital at Erlanger in Chattanooga after being pinned between a car and a steel beam on Aug. 27 at GooGoo Express Wash. Jalen Storey, 24, of Dalton was moving the car when the incident occurred.

Jalen Storey said Zayden woke up earlier this week after being sedated since the incident. Zayden has abrasions, scars and a broken pelvic bone.

Jalen Storey said Zayden has already had two surgeries on his pelvic bone. He said Zayden has to wear a cast to hold his hips together for the next six to seven weeks.

“The cast starts below his knees and ends right above them,” he said. “His left leg is in a bent position and his right leg is straight.”

He said “it’s a blessing” Zayden didn’t receive permanent damage. Zayden is expected to be released from the hospital within the next week, but will have to learn to walk again in rehab.

Jalen Storey and Zayden’s mother Joslyn Dunn have been staying at the hospital with him.

To help with medical costs, family members have started a GoFundMe account with a $20,000 goal. Donations can be made at https://www.gofundme.com/zayden-storey.

Jalen Storey said what started as a normal day on Aug. 27 turned into “a real nightmare.” He picked Zayden up from school and they went to clean his car.

He said after they vacuumed the car he decided to vacuum the trunk, but the hose wasn’t long enough.

“I realized I didn’t pull all the way in the parking space,” he said. “I told him (Zayden) to stand behind the speed bump and stay there.”

He said he started the 1997 Nissan Sentra, a five speed, and when he went to pull the clutch to put the car in first gear and remove his foot, his flip-flop got stuck.

“I wasn’t able to get my foot out to hit the brakes,” he said. “The car was accelerating and I couldn’t get my foot out in time to stop it.”

He said Zayden was pinned in-between the vacuum hose pole and the front driver side’s bumper.

“He was stuck there for about eight seconds,” he said. “I finally got the car in reverse and got out to get him.”

He said Zayden was conscious, not crying and still on his feet.

“He was limping and I saw a lot of blood dripping from his shorts,” he said.

He said he noticed a sheriff’s office car in the car wash drive-thru waiting to go in.

“I picked Zayden up and ran toward the car, by the time I got over there, he (the deputy) opened the door and called for an ambulance,” he said.

Roderick Storey, Zayden’s grandfather, said he was next door at Lowe’s when he saw ambulances, but didn’t pay attention to them.

“I left and a few minutes later received a call telling me what happened,” he said.

Roderick Storey said the family is blessed.

“We’re so thankful Zayden is OK, it could’ve been much worse,” he said.

Jalen Storey said he “beat himself up” about what happened, but he’s doing better now.

“I’m fine now knowing my son is going to be OK,” he said. “I’m 10 times better than I was last week. I’m able to talk about it without getting in my feelings.”

He said he regrets not “being safe.”

“One thing I would’ve done differently is not tell Zayden to go to the front of the car,” he said. “I should’ve sat him in the car … I wasn’t thinking. I didn’t think it was going to happen like that.”

Bruce Frazier, a Dalton Police Department spokesman, said the incident is still under investigation and it will “probably be weeks before it’s closed out.”

Jalen Storey said he’s thankful for the prayers and donations for his son.

“Please keep prayers coming, he still has a long road ahead of him,” he said. “I’m thankful to still have him here … and thankful God spared him.”

To donate to help with Zayden Storey’s medical bills, visit https://www.gofundme.com/zayden-storey.