Once rescuers got him breathing again, the next concern for paramedics and doctors was to make sure he recovered with as little brain damage as possible.

"The chance of having brain damage due to lack of oxygen are high," he said. "If you cool them to 32 to 34 degrees Centigrade, there's a better chance of a good neurological outcome."

Grissom and other doctors have used the hypothermia-like treatment on other patients, such as those who suffer cardiac arrest, to reduce the possibility of permanent brain damage. In Max's situation, doctors had to actually warm his body up to 32 degrees Centigrade, he said.

But once his brain was between that 32 to 34 degree level, doctors kept Max at that temperature for 24 hours to allow his brain time to recover, Grissom said. Normal body temperature is 37 degrees Centigrade.

Although Max's progress was still being monitored by doctors, as of Wednesday there did not appear to be any sign of serious brain damage.

Grissom said a lot of credit should go to everyone, from the ski patrol to the doctors at the hospital and everyone who treated Max in between, for helping his recovery go as well as it has.

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E-mail: preavy@desnews.com