Tyler Olson

It was a critical moment of healing. Seven days after the dog that was part wolf tore off Tyler Olson's right arm, and three operations after doctors using microscopic surgery sewed it back, the bandaged little boy was lifted from his hospital bed and laid in the lap of his mother. For Michele Olson, and Tyler's father, Howard, who had kept a bedside vigil since the April 19 mauling, "it was a quite happy moment," a Thomas Jefferson University Hospital surgeon said, in the driest of understatement.

A chorus of long, mournful howls went up as the black giant dismounted from the roof of his doghouse and paced in circles. No ordinary pooch, this. Luminous, pale yellow eyes closed as he threw back his head and joined in the bellows emanating from his two companions. The call of the wild resounded in Atco as Manitou, a 99 percent wolf hybrid, let it be known that he wanted to talk. "Wolves only howl when they're lonely or want to communicate," said Manitou's owner, Bob Outlaw.

Tyler Olson improved slightly yesterday. He was still in critical condition. He remained in a coma. But the 16-month-old boy, whose arm was torn off by a dog 2 1/2 weeks ago, encouraged doctors with his improved responses to pain stimuli, according to a spokeswoman at Thomas Jefferson University Hospital. The toddler grimaced when physicians tested him. "Medically, they are good signs," spokeswoman Cindy Hoffman said yesterday. "He's certainly not gotten any worse, and if anything he's probably gotten a little better.

Tyler Olson, the 16-month-old boy whose arm was torn off by a dog, opened his eyes for a few seconds yesterday at Thomas Jefferson University Hospital - but possibly only as a reflex, a hospital spokeswoman said. The boy remained in a coma. His condition was still extremely critical but it did not worsen yesterday, said the spokeswoman, Cindy Hoffman. On Friday the coma had deepened and Tyler had shown only minimal responses to pinching and other stimuli. Doctors could not tell whether Tyler had opened his eyes in response to stimuli, or simply as an involuntary reflex, Hoffman said.

More than two years ago, Tyler Olson, then 16 months old, of Little Egg Harbor Township in Ocean County, N.J., had his right arm ripped off above the elbow by a neighbor's dog, which was part wolf. After an agonizing ordeal to save his arm, the toddler had a stroke, fell into a coma, lost the arm and had part of his brain removed. But miraculously, Tyler lived. And yesterday, Superior Court Judge Rosalie Cooper in Toms River awarded the Olsons $850,000. "We're happy with it, definitely happy with it," said Tyler's father, Howard Olson.

Tyler Olson, the 16-month-old boy whose arm was torn off by a dog on April 19, continued to deteriorate yesterday, forcing doctors to perform brain surgery to relieve swelling that had begun to form at the back of the toddler's head. Details of the boy's condition, which is considered critical, were limited last night. Doctors began the delicate surgery sometime after 6 p.m. at Thomas Jefferson University Hospital, which has been the scene of the nearly two- week-long battle to save the boy's right arm, and now his life.

He has sucked on a grape lollipop, rested in the arms of his parents and, as he recovers in his hospital crib, has improved from critical to serious condition. But doctors said yesterday that in addition to his right arm, Tyler Olson has lost as much as a quarter of his brain's cerebellum to surgery, and the nature of his recovery may not be known for many months. During a press briefing yesterday, doctors at Thomas Jefferson University Hospital said that the New Jersey boy whose right arm was bitten off by a wolf-dog hybrid had gradually emerged from a seven-day coma and was slowly improving.

For an instant, they looked like an ordinary family: The mother, wearing a pink T-shirt that said "Yacht Club," had sunglasses propped in her hair and carried a baby bottle filled with chocolate milk. The father toted the curly-haired little boy who sucked a pacifier and rested his head on his dad's shoulder. But as the trio entered the hospital auditorium yesterday, a glance showed that the right sleeve of the child's Navy blue overalls was empty - save for the tip of a white bandage.

The hospital room is filled with stuffed animals from home, but his favorites are the balloons. The brightly colored gifts from well-wishers are the first things 16-month- old Tyler Olson looks at when he wakens from his naps. The balloons, and the faces of his parents. Michelle and Howard Olson of Little Egg Harbor, N.J., have not left their son's bedside since April 19, when he was rushed into surgery to reattach his right arm, bitten off above the elbow by a neighbor's dog, which was part wolf.

They offered him a grape lollipop, and just like any little kid, he stuck it in his mouth and sucked. A cute scene, the stuff of family albums. But to doctors at Thomas Jefferson University Hospital yesterday, the sight of Tyler Olson with a sucker in his mouth brought not only smiles but deep sighs of relief. It looks like the little boy is going to make it. "We are pleased to report a steady improvement in his condition," said Dr. Leonard Graziani, who heads the pediatrics and neurology department.

More than two years ago, Tyler Olson, then 16 months old, of Little Egg Harbor Township in Ocean County, N.J., had his right arm ripped off above the elbow by a neighbor's dog, which was part wolf. After an agonizing ordeal to save his arm, the toddler had a stroke, fell into a coma, lost the arm and had part of his brain removed. But miraculously, Tyler lived. And yesterday, Superior Court Judge Rosalie Cooper in Toms River awarded the Olsons $850,000. "We're happy with it, definitely happy with it," said Tyler's father, Howard Olson.

A chorus of long, mournful howls went up as the black giant dismounted from the roof of his doghouse and paced in circles. No ordinary pooch, this. Luminous, pale yellow eyes closed as he threw back his head and joined in the bellows emanating from his two companions. The call of the wild resounded in Atco as Manitou, a 99 percent wolf hybrid, let it be known that he wanted to talk. "Wolves only howl when they're lonely or want to communicate," said Manitou's owner, Bob Outlaw.

For an instant, they looked like an ordinary family: The mother, wearing a pink T-shirt that said "Yacht Club," had sunglasses propped in her hair and carried a baby bottle filled with chocolate milk. The father toted the curly-haired little boy who sucked a pacifier and rested his head on his dad's shoulder. But as the trio entered the hospital auditorium yesterday, a glance showed that the right sleeve of the child's Navy blue overalls was empty - save for the tip of a white bandage.

They offered him a grape lollipop, and just like any little kid, he stuck it in his mouth and sucked. A cute scene, the stuff of family albums. But to doctors at Thomas Jefferson University Hospital yesterday, the sight of Tyler Olson with a sucker in his mouth brought not only smiles but deep sighs of relief. It looks like the little boy is going to make it. "We are pleased to report a steady improvement in his condition," said Dr. Leonard Graziani, who heads the pediatrics and neurology department.

He has sucked on a grape lollipop, rested in the arms of his parents and, as he recovers in his hospital crib, has improved from critical to serious condition. But doctors said yesterday that in addition to his right arm, Tyler Olson has lost as much as a quarter of his brain's cerebellum to surgery, and the nature of his recovery may not be known for many months. During a press briefing yesterday, doctors at Thomas Jefferson University Hospital said that the New Jersey boy whose right arm was bitten off by a wolf-dog hybrid had gradually emerged from a seven-day coma and was slowly improving.

As doctors struggle to save the life of Tyler Olson, their job is made tougher by the fact that their patient is only 16 months old. The differences between operating on an adult and on a child like Tyler, who lost his arm in a wolf-dog attack, are not simply those of size, explained a leading pediatric neurosurgeon. "Things happen much more quickly with a child," said Dr. Luis Schut, who heads the neurology department at Children's Hospital of Philadelphia and has not been involved in treating Tyler.

Tyler Olson improved slightly yesterday. He was still in critical condition. He remained in a coma. But the 16-month-old boy, whose arm was torn off by a dog 2 1/2 weeks ago, encouraged doctors with his improved responses to pain stimuli, according to a spokeswoman at Thomas Jefferson University Hospital. The toddler grimaced when physicians tested him. "Medically, they are good signs," spokeswoman Cindy Hoffman said yesterday. "He's certainly not gotten any worse, and if anything he's probably gotten a little better.

Tyler Olson, the 16-month-old boy whose arm was torn off by a dog, opened his eyes for a few seconds yesterday at Thomas Jefferson University Hospital - but possibly only as a reflex, a hospital spokeswoman said. The boy remained in a coma. His condition was still extremely critical but it did not worsen yesterday, said the spokeswoman, Cindy Hoffman. On Friday the coma had deepened and Tyler had shown only minimal responses to pinching and other stimuli. Doctors could not tell whether Tyler had opened his eyes in response to stimuli, or simply as an involuntary reflex, Hoffman said.

Tyler Olson, the New Jersey toddler whose arm was bitten off by a dog, slipped further into a coma yesterday after undergoing another emergency operation to relieve swelling of his brain. The surgery, which began Thursday and continued into early yesterday, was the second brain operation in less than 30 hours for the boy and his seventh operation in two weeks. A spokeswoman at Thomas Jefferson University Hospital said yesterday afternoon that 16-month-old Tyler was "largely unresponsive" and "would not be a good candidate for additional surgery.

Tyler Olson, the 16-month-old boy whose arm was torn off by a dog on April 19, continued to deteriorate yesterday, forcing doctors to perform brain surgery to relieve swelling that had begun to form at the back of the toddler's head. Details of the boy's condition, which is considered critical, were limited last night. Doctors began the delicate surgery sometime after 6 p.m. at Thomas Jefferson University Hospital, which has been the scene of the nearly two- week-long battle to save the boy's right arm, and now his life.