Jeremy Renner is making major strides following a frightening New Year’s Daysnowplow accident on his property in Reno, Nevada.
“We are so thrilled with his progress,” the actor’s sister, Kym Renner, saysin the new issue of PEOPLE. “If anyone knows Jeremy, he is a fighter anddoesn’t mess around. He is crushing all the progress goals. We couldn’t feelmore positive about the road ahead.”
The Marvel Cinematic Universe actor, 52, has been hospitalized since Jan. 1,when he was airlifted to a local medical center. He suffered “blunt chesttrauma and orthopedic injuries,” according to a statement from his rep, andunderwent emergency surgery the next day.
Renner gave his first update to fans on Jan. 3, posting a hospital bed selfieto Instagram and thanking well-wishers for their support. “Thank you all foryour kind words. 🙏. Im too messed up now to type. But I send love to you all.”
TAORMINA, ITALY – JUNE 18: Jeremy Renner attends Baume & Mercier – 62 TaorminaFilm Fest Gala Dinner on June 18, 2016 in Taormina, Italy. (Photo byVenturelli/Getty Images)
Venturelli/Getty
RELATED: Marvel Stars Wish Superhero Cohort Jeremy Renner Happy Birthdayamid His Hospital Recovery
Two days later, he shared a video to his Instagram Story where his sistercould be seen massaging his head and making her brother laugh as their motherlooked on during what the actor wrote was a “spa moment to lift my spirits.”
Jeremy Renner Shares Video of Mom and Sister Helping ‘Lift My Spirits’ in ICU
Jeremy Renner/Instagram
On Jan. 6, he posted an image on his Instagram Story surrounded by hospitalstaff alongside a message of gratitude. “Thank you renowned medical ICU teamfor beginning this journey,” he wrote alongside the image with a series ofprayer emojis beneath the photo.
Renner, who celebrated his 52nd birthday in the hospital Jan. 7, was “movingsnow from his driveway so that his family members could depart his home afterringing in the new year together,” his rep previously told PEOPLE. “He wasalso helping clear out the snow of his neighbor’s home as everyone up therehad been without power for 24 hours, and there had been a large snowfall.”
RELATED: Jeremy Renner Thanks ‘Renowned’ Medical Staff in AnotherRecovery Update from the Hospital
Story continues
Meanwhile, Washoe County Sheriff Darin Balaam said in a press conference thesame day that Renner was helping a family member get a “stuck” vehicle out ofthe estimated 3 feet of snowfall from the night before when the incidentoccurred.
“Mr. Renner went to retrieve his PistenBully, or snowcat — an extremely largepiece of snow-removal equipment weighing at least 14,330 pounds — in an effortto get his vehicle moving. After successfully towing his personal vehicle fromits stuck location, Mr. Renner Renner got out of his PistenBully to speak tohis family member,” Balaam said.
Never miss a story — sign up for ** PEOPLE ‘s free daily newsletter** to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from juicycelebrity news to compelling human interest stories.
“At this point, it is observed that the PistenBully started to roll. In aneffort to stop the rolling PistenBully, Mr. Renner attempts to get back intothe driver’s seat of the PistenBully. Based on our investigation, it’s at thispoint that Mr .Renner is run over by the PistenBully.”
Several of Renner’s friends and costars including Evangeline Lilly, HaileeSteinfeld and Chris Hemsworth have all wished the actor well in his recovery,with Lilly, 43, writing on Instagram that Renner has “always been one of themost grounded and real people I ever met inHollywood.”
A Renner source says the messages from famous friends and fans alike have kepthis spirits up as he continues to heal: “Jeremy is making positive progressand while he has a long road to recovery, he is overwhelmed by the showing oflove and support. “
For more on Jeremy Renner, pick up the new issue of PEOPLE.