A promising university student from Atlanta faces a future of paralysis and a staggering medical bill after a devastating skiing accident in Colorado, which occurred mere hours after he dismissed his mother's urgent plea to take professional lessons.
A Fateful Decision on the Slopes
Ayden Slipsager, an 18-year-old freshman at the University of Georgia, was enjoying a ski trip with his father and a friend on December 17 when tragedy struck. The outing took a horrific turn on the icy Colorado slopes, leaving the teenager with catastrophic, life-altering injuries.
In a cruel twist of fate, his mother, Tami Slipsager, had begged him to take private ski lessons just before he set out, deeply concerned about his novice abilities on the snow. Ayden, however, assured her he was 'doing okay' and declined the instruction.
Catastrophic Injuries and a Desperate Fight for Recovery
Approximately two hours after that conversation, Tami received a panicked phone call. She learned her son was at an urgent care centre, where medics were inserting a breathing port as he bled severely. He had lost consciousness for around 40 minutes after a violent collision on the mountain before a stranger spotted him and summoned help.
The exact object he struck remains a mystery. "We don’t know if it was ice or a stump or rock," Tami told Atlanta News First, noting the severe trauma suggested contact with trees, yet he was not found near any.
The incident left Ayden with a harrowing list of injuries: spinal cord damage, a fractured skull, broken ribs, a collapsed lung, and a broken collarbone. His mother described the agonising sight of him in hospital, intubated and surrounded by braces and tubes, calling it "the worst day of my life."
A Daunting Financial Burden and a Community's Support
While Ayden has shown progress in his recovery, a new monumental challenge has emerged. He requires a specialised medical transport flight from Denver back to his home state of Georgia to continue rehabilitation at the renowned Shepherd Center, a top spinal cord facility.
The cost for this critical air ambulance service is estimated at between $100,000 and $150,000 – an expense his family's insurance does not fully cover and one they cannot afford alone.
In response, a friend has launched a GoFundMe campaign, which has so far raised $44,000. The fundraiser states that getting Ayden to the Shepherd Center gives the family "so much hope," as it will allow him to receive specialised care closer to his vital support network.
The family is clinging to the hope that Ayden, a high-achieving student who earned a 3.9 GPA in his first semester and aspired to study business or finance, will make a full recovery. Described as a stellar athlete who loved soccer and travel, his future plans are now on hold as he fights to regain his health.
