BAKERSFIELD, Calif. - The father of a local soldier who was injured in an Afghan suicide blast gave an update on his son on Monday morning.

According to his father, Lieutenant Samuel Van Kopp can now walk with some help and can stand on his own. 

He is also able to eat, drink, and carry on conversations.

However, his father also said that his son is having trouble with headaches and recognizing faces because he can't focus on his vision.  

The plan now includes surgery for bone fragments and physical and traumatic brain injury therapy.

Doctors say the time line for recovery is one to three years, but Van Kopp's father sid he'll beat those odds.