The little boy, critically injured when a stranger threw him off a balcony at Minnesota's Mall of America in April, is back at school and walking normally, after numerous surgeries, physical therapy and an outpouring of public support. 

Landen Hoffman fell nearly 40 feet (12 meters) onto the concourse of the mall in Bloomington when he was five years old after he was randomly picked up and thrown from the third floor by 24-year-old Emmanuel Aranda. 

When he finally came back home in August, his legs were uneven, he was limping and he had an open wound in his stomach, family friend Noah Hanneman said on Friday on the GoFundMe page that raised more than $1million for Landen's medical expenses. 

After much physical therapy, he is now walking 'perfectly,' the family friend said in an update to more than 29,000 donors. ' The wound has finally scabbed over and new skin is growing, and we are still optimistic he will be off some of his medications soon.' 

Landen Hoffman, five, is now walking perfectly and a belly wound has healed.  He suffered injuries following a random attack by stranger Emmanuel Deshawn Aranda (right)

Hoffman was thrown from a third-floor balcony (above), around 40ft high, by Emmanuel Aranda in April.  He suffered injuries including a broken leg and fractures to his face and skull

'He loves being back to school and going to kindergarten at the same school his twin brother and sister go to,' Hanneman wrote. ' He gets out of the car every morning happy and blows kisses all the way in!  He's a strong, happy boy.' 

The man who admitted throwing Landen from the balcony is serving a 19-year prison term he accepted in June after pleading guilty in Hennepin County District Court to attempted first-degree murder. 

Aranda told investigators he had been visiting the mall for years to try to talk to women, but was rejected and became angry.  He said he initially intended to kill an adult, but chose the boy instead. 

Despite the horrific ordeal, Hanneman said Landen has 'good memories' of the friends, family members and medical professionals who helped him in his recovery. 

'Landen knows people all over the world are praying for him and he loves all the cards he keeps getting in the mail,' he wrote. ' There was one bad person, but from that came millions of Good people!' 

In August the family announced that he was no longer in intensive care and was back at home but that he would need rehabilitation before he could return to school. 

Hoffman (left) returned home five months after the attack in April with limp and uneven legs from a two-time broken femur, an open wound on his belly.  Aranda (right) told investigators he had been visiting the mall for years to try to talk to women, but was rejected and became angry.  He said he initially intended to kill an adult, but chose the boy instead

A fundraising page (above) launched to help cover the medical costs of his treatment inside the hospital and rehabilitation outside received over a million dollars in donations

His extensive injuries included a broken leg and fractures to his face and skull. 

The boy's treatment has included having fluid drained from his lungs and stomach and inserting a stent into a vein running through his liver. 

Hoffman underwent more than 15 medical procedures and surgeries on his 'very challenging road to recovery' and the journey has helped the child bond with other children at school. 

'When his mommy asks him if she can look at his wound or asks how he's doing, he always responds with "Mom, I’m healed, you don't need to ask me anymore."  Landen loves life and Jesus!'  the GoFundMe update states. 

'He tells people all the time when they get hurt, don’t worry, I fell off a cliff, but Angels caught me and Jesus loves me, so I’m ok and you will be too!' 

The boy has more hospital appointments scheduled for December and the family friend asked for continued prayers for a full recovery. 

Family members had called for Aranda to face the maximum sentence during the court appearances but later after sentencing claimed they had forgiven him. 

He loves being back to school and going to kindergarten at the same school his twin brother and sister go to and loved ones are optimistic he will be off some of his medications soon

In statements from Hoffman's mother Kari, read by Senior Assistant County Attorney, by Cheri Townsend, she told him that he would 'take nothing' from the family. 

'I refuse to be full of anger and hatred.  I refuse to let you take my joy.  My sweet precious baby, my amazing gift from God is going to be OK. 

'You get to take nothing from us.  You chose to listen to the devil that day.  I don't get to judge you or hate you.  Instead I am full of God's love.' 

The boy's father also stated religion as his reason for forgiving Aranda but condemned the actions as 'acts intended to kill and destroy.' 

'On what was to be a normal day for us of fun and playing, a day meant for good, you chose to commit a horrific, violent act. 

'Holding hate only harms me and I will not allow that,' he said in a note read by Townsend. 

Outside the courtroom Aranda's mother Becky claimed that she had not been able to ask him what happened and why, according to KSTP-TV. 

She explained that her son had struggled with mental health issues. 

Becky Aranda said: 'I, myself, ask for forgiveness for my son and am hoping that the same God that she calls upon... will also show mercy for my son.' 

Aranda agreed to a plead deal in June and must serve at least two-thirds of his sentence in prison. 

Aranda avoided eye contact in court (above) and was sentenced to 19 years in prison in June after pleading guilty to attempted premeditated first degree murder