Bryan Schuler fights for normalcy

Bryan Schuler has trouble seeing and must wear an eye patch to rebuild his sight. The 5-year-old sees a physical therapist every day, in between home-school classes, to strengthen his arms and legs, atrophied from being in casts.

And a psychologist visits the boy's West Babylon home once a week to help him deal with the deaths of his mother, sister and three cousins in a July 26 vehicle collision only he survived.

>>PHOTOS: Click here to see more photos of Bryan Schuler and his family

"He's coping," said Thomas Ruskin, whose company, CMP Protective and Investigative Group, is investigating the crash for Bryan's father, Daniel.

Friday morning, the "Today" show aired an interview with Ruskin who said Bryan Schuler misses his mother and younger sister, Erin, who both died in the Taconic crash. Ruskin says Bryan asks if his mom and sister are in heaven.

After spending two months in the hospital before returning home in September, Bryan is also showing signs of recovery. He can run and jump, kick a ball and play most of the games he enjoyed before the crash, Ruskin said.

Ruskin said Bryan Schuler's father puts the patch on a different eye each day, which helps each to look straight ahead. "They're hoping it's temporary," Ruskin said.

Authorities say the crash was caused by his mother driving while drunk and high on marijuana. Diane Schuler, 36, had a blood-alcohol concentration of 0.19 percent and drove the wrong way on the Taconic State Parkway in Westchester, crashing head-on into a sport utility vehicle.

Killed were Schuler and Bryan's sister, Erin, 2; his cousins, Emma Hance, 8, Alyson Hance, 7, and Kate Hance, 5; and three Yonkers men in the SUV - Guy Bastardi, 49, his father, Michael Bastardi, 81, and Daniel Longo, 74.

>>PHOTOS: Click here to see more photos of Bryan Schuler and his family