After a 19-year-old stunt biker went to collect takeout, he suffered a terrible accident that fractured many bones in his face. This could’ve left him with permanent damage for the rest of his life if it wasn’t for a community of Good Samaritans who made his urgent surgery possible in the nick of time!
Vereeniging, South Africa (06 March 2024) — Aidan Roos, a 19-year-old from Three Rivers, Vereeniging, and a promising stunt biker with aspirations to showcase his skills in China, suffered a life-altering accident last month.
A seemingly routine outing for takeout took a disastrous turn when he slipped on a wet floor, and his face collided with a balustrade, causing severe facial injuries that abruptly halted his dreams.
But, in an incredible turn for Aidan and his family, his broader community came together just in time to help Aidan get the urgent surgery he needs; setting him on the road to both recovery and his dreams.
A series of initial misfortunes led to Aidan being unable to get his treatment sooner. Initially, he was sent home by the hospital as they were unable to proceed with the operation due to swelling. This led to medical aid opting not to cover his plight as they only cover up to 24 hours after a trauma, according to his Aunt Lynette Smith.
Everything changed for Aidan after that. His mom, Roeline Botha expressed that it has “brought his bright future to a standstill.”
While his mom tried other means to raise funds, Aunt Lynette took to share Aidan’s story and create a crowdfunding campaign dubbed ‘Aidan needs surgery’ on 13 February.
“We urgently need to raise R100 000 for Aidan to have surgery on his face, because the surgery needs to be done by no later than 19 February, otherwise he will be left with permanent damage for the rest of his life,” Lynette wrote.
In timing that can only be described as miraculous, funds poured in in the thousands and the initial target was met!
Thanks to this mind-blowing display of community kindness, Aidan was able to receive surgery to address the fractures in his facial bones. Considering that his face was broken in five places, this marked a pivotal moment in his journey to recovery.
With follow-up scans, MRIs, and aftercare afoot, the Good Samaritan community is still rallying for Aidan. R119,000 has been raised toward the fundraising target of R160,000, and hopes are incredibly high that the young stunt biker will have his life back soon.
Aidan’s mother, Roeline, expressed her heartfelt gratitude, stating, “From the bottom of my heart, I just want to thank everyone for their generosity, love, and support, and most of all, for everyone’s prayers.” The funds raised have already made a significant impact, securing Aidan’s chance at a healthy, normal life.
You can help Aidan and his family conquer the rest of the target via BackaBuddy!