Aiden with his arms around his friend Bradley Dolden and girlfriend Amelia Henry. PHOTO/SUPPLIED
KAREN COLTMAN
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Turning 21 is a big event in anyone’s life, but when Aiden Sayer reached the milestone on Friday there was even more poignancy to the occasion. It was a date many thought he wouldn’t reach.
In a workplace accident at AGTEC Machinery in Solway on February 11, Sayer suffered a serious brain injury and spent many weeks in Wellington Hospital before returning home to Masterton.
He lost 20kg in the 2½ weeks he was in a coma. His lung collapsed at one stage during his hospital stay. Doctors called his recovery a medical miracle.
His mother Vania Ireland said his condition has continued to improve. She celebrated his birthday with his stepfather Craig Ireland, other family members and close friends at Lone Star in Masterton on Friday night. Sayer had planned to go skiing in Queenstown for his 21st but postponed that plan until next year.
“The chocolate mud cake was delicious, and the event was very special for everyone that has been supporting Aiden during his recovery,” his mother said.
“We are just so proud of him and so glad he made it, we thought he was going to die. My son is a lovely young man.”
In the accident a truck trailer fell on him and pushed him across the room. He struck his head on both sides and had half his ear ripped off. He had his head hit from every direction and had a 5cm deep laceration punctured into it.
Sayer is not brain damaged but has double vision with one eye not focusing forward well. But he is back working for around eight hours a week and has been fixing cars.
His problem-solving skills are not yet back to the speed they were at before the accident.
He was also managing pain caused by a large bladder stone. His mother said he sleeps on his side now because of the pain.
They were trying to gain Accident Compensation Corporation funding for the removal of the stone but this has been refused.
On the day of his birthday she got a letter from ACC which said that he was not eligible for funding because the stone would’ve been present before his accident.
But she and his specialist were adamant the stone was the result of Sayer having a catheter for a long period. They intend to appeal the ACC decision.
