On eve of school fundraiser, mother recalls bicycle crash that nearly took her teen son
The greatest Mother’s Day gift for Roberta Rosario is the continued recovery of her 16-year-old son Elijah, who was struck by a car nearly two years ago, suffering critical back and facial injuries and outer brain trauma.
The teen survived the Aug. 21, 2013 crash, which happened while he was on a bicycle at the intersection of Saliman and Fifth street in Carson City. He was hit by a teenage motorist in which neither saw each other. Elijah suffered several back fractures, a broken right tibia, and a severe laceration to his face. He went into the vehicle window, and then was thrown approximately 60 feet, landing head first into the concrete.
Roberta said some thought he wasn’t going to make it, given the severity of the injuries. But Elijah has pulled through with the help of family, friends, classmates and faith in God.
“Faith has gotten us through it. We couldn’t have gone through it without the help of the Lord,” said Roberta Rosario of she and her's husband Ed's experience as parents. She vividly recalled the morning she received a phone call from Carson City paramedics explaining her son had been in an accident. He was not wearing a bicycle helmet.
“He continues to go through a lot but we are strong. I’m hoping one day he will be able use the experience to speak with others about what happened,” she said. “About wearing a helmet, which should be a law, and that eye-to-eye contact is needed on the road, in intersections whether you’re in a car, are a pedestrian or bicyclist. People need to pay attention to each other.”
Elijah is a junior at Sierra Lutheran High School and will be turning 17 on May 18. On Monday, May 11, the Sierra Lutheran High School's National Honor Society will host a benefit for Elijah to help defray the cost of surgeries he will undergo this summer.
Hot dogs, hamburgers, chips and drink will be served starting at 5:30 p.m. with music at 6:30 featuring members of the local Christian group, I AM THEY. The cost is $5 for dinner and donation at the door for music. The high school is located at 3601 Romans Road, Carson City.
The community is invited to the event, meant to help cover the costs of at least two additional surgeries Elijah needs: One to his back to help minimize the chronic nerve pain he experiences, and surgery to his face. While insurance has covered expenses, it hasn’t covered everything and the family has struggled in paying the costs.
“His being alive is the greatest Mother’s Day gift ever,” said Roberta. “So many people have been with us, praying with us, from the 30 people in the ER room the day it happened to our church (Harvest Bible Chapel in Carson City.) We are grateful.”
Elijah has turned the corner during his rehabilitation, but still experiences pain from nerve damage. The doctors told him his injuries are “the new normal” and that he has to adapt to them, she said. He is indeed improving, with additional surgeries needed to help alleviate nerve pain he continues to experience.
Elijah will be a senior next year, and plans to attend Carson High School. He has expressed interest in pursuing a career in law enforcement or being an EMT. He has a 20-year-old brother, Nathaniel, and a four-year-old sister, Abigail. Sierra Lutheran's Honor Society took it on themselves to hold the fundraiser for Elijah and are encouraging the community to join them.
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