Sunday evening eight-year-old Gianni Toce from Destin was seriously injured in a firework accident. Since then the community has pulled together to show support during his recovery.

The family wants people to pray, but there is something more you can do to help.

It's been three years since Gianni lost his mother to cancer. Sunday evening, Mother's Day, the family celebrated her life at a house in Kelly Plantation by setting off fireworks.

According to a family friend, the happy occasion quickly turned tragic when Gianni suffered critical face and head injuries and was blinded by some sort of firework. He was rushed to Sacred Heart on the Emerald Coast and then flown to Sacred Heart Hospital in Pensacola.

Susan Parker is the wife of Gianni's baseball coach. She says she is confident his special spirit will help pull him through.

"He's just a joy to know. He's one of those kids where there's something so special about them. You just don't know how to explain it."

People in the community have been wearing yellow bracelets in support of Gianni's recovery and his pastor from Shoreline Church has set up a fund where people can donate to help the family.

"It's very important for people to pray and be encouraged. Gianni's father wants everyone to know that Gianni's actually doing way better than they thought, to be encouraged that the prayers are working. That's what we really want people to pray, and if you want to give, great."

Friends and family are keeping hopes high because Gianni isn't known to go down with out a fight.

"He's a fighter. He's a fighter and he's a really, really happy child too and I think that helps and it shows every time you're around him. I have a lot of confidence in this little child."

If you'd like to donate to help Gianni's family with medical expenses you're asked to send a check to Shoreline Church at P.O. Box 45,7 Destin FL, 32540. Make sure on the check that you note it's for Gianni.