Ayden Merrow, my brother, has always been passionate about cars—engines, rims, tires, sound systems, and everything in between. He’s also a devoted animal lover, a loyal friend, and a cherished member of our large extended family. On November 13, 2025, Ayden’s life changed in an instant when he was involved in a very serious automobile accident. He was airlifted to Hershey Medical Center and placed on life support, facing a major head injury that required several brain procedures. The swelling in his brain was so severe that neurosurgeons had to remove the right side of his skull to give his brain room to heal.

In addition to his head injury, Ayden broke his neck at the C7 vertebra, which has left his right side without movement. He’s been unable to tolerate a feeding tube down his nose and has struggled with aspiration, so doctors are preparing to place a feeding tube directly into his stomach. Every day brings new challenges, and Ayden has a long road ahead—he needs to be weaned off sedation and maintain stable numbers before we can even begin to understand what his future might look like.

As Thanksgiving approaches, our family is grateful that Ayden is still fighting. We know the medical bills will start arriving soon, and as a young man, Ayden never expected to face such overwhelming expenses. All donations will go directly to his medical bills and the care he’ll need on what will likely be a year-long journey. Our family is deeply thankful for any support you can offer as we stand by Ayden’s side and hope for his recovery.