Our dear friend Max was recently in a devastating car accident while traveling in Namibia. He suffered multiple spinal fractures (C5, C6, and C7) as well as a broken collar bone and required timely surgery to stabilize and repair his neck and prevent further damage. Thanks to the prayers of many and the careful selection of the best Namibian Orthopedic Spinal Surgeon, the surgery was successful, and Max is on the mend.

Max is one of the kindest, most adventurous, and selfless people we know. Always the first to show up with a helping hand or a smile. Now he’s the one who needs our support.

Because Max's travel insurance does not cover this type of medical expenses, the cost of his surgery, ICU stay, hospital care, and recovery are entirely out of pocket. The medical bills are overwhelming, and on his behalf we’re asking our community to come together so that finances don’t add to the weight of what Max and Haily are already carrying as they focus on healing. After his surgery on September 15, Max spent four nights in the hospital under close monitoring to ensure his lung contusion remained free of embolisms and that his pain was well managed. During this time, he also began physiotherapy—taking his first steps and starting to regain strength. He was discharged Friday evening, and we have since traveled to Cape Town for the next stage of his recovery. Here, we await a follow-up appointment with the neurosurgeons to give Max the green light to fly home and continue physiotherapy and his healing journey.

Every contribution, no matter the size, will go directly toward covering Max’s hospital bills, rehabilitation, and ongoing care. If you aren’t able to give, simply sharing this page with others would mean the world. With the support of friends, family, and kind strangers, we believe he’ll get through this stronger than ever.

Below are Haily's Venmo and Wise usernames, which are the preferred method of donation.

Venmo: Haily-Celestin

Wise: hailyc3

Thank you for standing with Max. He is so blessed to have such an expansive and loving community. Much love to everyone!