A Canadian man whose eyeball popped out of its socket after being hit by a van has undergone eight surgeries to reconstruct his face. Aash Martin, 22, from Mississauga, Ontario, was crossing the road in 2017 when a van struck him, fracturing his skull in multiple places and causing glass shards to enter his lungs.
His brother found him screaming on the ground and called their family. Aash was left fighting for his life with a traumatic brain injury. Three days later, surgeons used 26 plates and screws to reconstruct his lower jaw in a 12-hour operation.
Aash remained in hospital for a month, during which his muscles atrophied due to the brain injury and prolonged bed rest. He later underwent a second surgery in 2018 to place an implant behind his right eye to correct its sunken position.
He spent 2018 and 2019 recovering at home, with his mother leaving her job to care for him and assist with legal matters. The COVID-19 lockdowns then confined him indoors for another two years.
Now with more freedom, Aash is determined to live life to the fullest. He credits Canada's free healthcare system for enabling his recovery and encourages others in similar situations to use humour to stay positive.
