Aiden’s a ‘medical miracle’

Aiden Sayer was seriously injured in an accident at AGTEC Machinery on February 11. PHOTO/FILE

The young Wairarapa man who was seriously injured last month in a workplace accident at AGTEC Machinery in Solway has been described by doctors as a “medical miracle”.

Masterton welder Aiden Sayer, 20, was placed in an induced coma after he was knocked unconscious and his ear was severed in the accident at the Ngaumutawa Rd business on February 11.

He was taken off his coma-inducing drug on February 25 and by the end of that week there was hand squeezing on command, toe wiggling and facial expressions.

Doctors at Wellington Hospital say his recovery so far has been a “medical miracle”.

Aiden’s aunt Koren Sutherland said the family were told that it was rare to see someone so severely injured recover the way he has, and to where they suspect he can recover to.

“He’s in great spirits,” Sutherland said.

Aiden was improving day-by-day but has a long road of recovery ahead of him, including physio work, surgery to rebuild his ear which was sliced off and rehab where he will “retrain his brain”, including learning to walk and write again.

“This part of his journey will take time and a lot of effort on his part,” she said.

Already lean and 2.03 metres [6’8”], he lost 20kg in the two and a half weeks he was in a coma.

“He’s bones with skin,” Sutherland said. “He has no strength whatsoever.”

But he was making progress, and that gave the family hope, she said..

He stood up by himself for two minutes recently, and that was a big step forward.

Aiden’s bedside support team has been reduced to mainly just mum Vania now, with the hospital tightening up on visitors amid covid-19.

But Sutherland keeps in touch with Aiden by sending him short videos.

She was shocked recently when she received a text from Aiden from his hospital bed.

“Eight weeks ago, I thought I’d never see that,” she said.

“He’s talking – his sense of humour is there.”

– with NZME