HOLLYWOOD, Fla. -- Seven weeks after Maury Hernandez was wheeled into Memorial Hospital with what was described as "catastrophic" injuries, the 28-year-old Broward sheriff's deputy is doing better than his family and doctors anticipated.

"The improvement is amazing and this is nothing short of a miracle," Josue Hernandez, Maury's brother, told Local 10.

Josue Hernandez said he always felt his brother would pull through, but admits that optimism was difficult to maintain in the days following the incident that would change the life of his entire family.

Maury Hernandez was conducting a traffic stop shortly before noon Aug. 6 when a motorcyclist got off the vehicle, ran from the deputy, then turned and shot him.

David Maldonado, 23, fled to a nearby condominium complex on Hillcrest Drive, where Hollywood police officers took him into custody. Police said he was attempting a carjacking.

Josue Hernandez said his brother recalls the entire incident, which is a testament to the damage that wasn't done to his brain. Hernandez said his brother can walk, talk, and write and his memory is sharp.

"He recognizes everyone here from his family, people from high school he hasn't seen in ten years, everyone from his department. He knows who to talk to in Spanish, he knows who to talk to English right off the bat, without telling him anything," said Hernandez.

Josue Hernandez, an officer with the Hallandale Beach Police Department, said his brother was aware, five days after he was shot, that another deputy, Sgt. Chris Reyka was killed. And he was so disturbed by the slaying of Miami Dade Police Officer Jose Somohano on Sept. 12, that he sent a handwritten condolence card to the department.

The full degree of Hernandez's recovery won't be realized for months, but he's already surpassed most expectations, Local 10's Roger Lohse reported.

Maury Hernandez will remain at Memorial Hospital for a a few more weeks undergoing physical therapy.

"There's still a long way to go as far as his complete recovery, but we're getting there and we're very happy with where we're at," said Josue Hernandez.