UPDATE: How one 7-year-old boy is doing after being attacked in DHS

Gavin Ludwick, 7, of Desert Hot Springs remained hospitalized Monday since July 18 when he was attacked near his Desert Hot Springs home.

"Last night he moved his left hand for the first time since the attack and he squeezed my finger and that was awesome. Everybody in the room had the biggest smile on their face," Gavin's mother, Wendy Ludwick said.

Little Gavin has demonstrated positive signs of recovery less than 2 weeks following the incident.

"He’s opening his eyes and everything and he was talking quite a bit," Ludwick said.

His mother told News Channel 3 that he wanted to go home, and play Minecraft with his sister, a popular video game among children.

First responders have come to visit the young boy and show their support. Ludwick said Loma Linda firefighters brought Gavin clothes and shoes.

As of Monday little Gavin's condition was a stark change compared to a week prior. He had a tube running through his mouth, and friends and family were unaware how he would recover.

Gavin was attacked as he walked home from a neighbor's house. Another neighbor later found the victim lying facedown on the ground, unconscious. Police say the suspect may have used a weapon, and hit the victim in the head.

"We did find an item, a rock, in the roadway where the victim was found nearby. We don’t know if it’s involved in this incident but it has been sent to forensics to be looked at if there is some evidence there," Desert Hot Springs Deputy Chief Steven Shaw said.

Daniel Poulsen, 32, was arrested the next day and charged with attempted murder. On Thursday he appeared for a virtual arraignment. Instead, the judge declared a doubt after Poulsen's public defender said he believed the defendant did not understand the charges filed against him. Poulsen will undergo a psychiatric evaluation to determine whether he is mentally competent. He is due back in court on September 17.

Meanwhile, Gavin has shown signs that he is coherent, but there is still a ways to go.

"He hit one of the nurses and said, 'Don’t hurt my mommy.' He also said, 'Don’t hurt me,' so I think he’s never been afraid of being hurt before," Ludwick said.

Ludwick said one portion of Gavin's skull had to be removed after doctors could not salvage the fragmented bone.

"They said in 2-3 months once the swelling is down they’re going to have to put a titanium plate in there and then that’s going to have to be changed as he grows since he’s only 7. As he gets bigger, the plates going to have to get changed to be bigger with his head."

Gavin could be released by the end of the week or by next week. He will need to spend 2-3 months in rehab.