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August Soto, a state-qualifying wrestler for Broomfield High School, has been battling a challenging recovery after a head-on collision on Colo. 93 on July 22. The 16-year-old athlete suffered a traumatic brain injury (TBI), bruised his lung, and endured three spinal fractures.
The family is unsure how August's TBI will affect his ability to compete in wrestling. His mother, Amy Soto, heard about the crash from August's friend's father. Amy was unable to reach her son due to traffic on Colo. 93 caused by the crash.
August started to wake up about three days after the crash, but was unable to retain memories due to the brain injury. He has played football, rugby, and track and field, and his friends, teachers, and high school students have shown support for him during this difficult time. Donations of food, offers of yard work, and contributions to a GoFundMe for his medical bills have poured in. By Wednesday, the GoFundMe, started by August's best friend Josh Hanes, surpassed $14,000 in donations.
August's personality has not yet returned fully, and his medical team anticipates that he may be able to go home in a couple of weeks. Recovery from August's TBI will be a lengthy process, taking up to a year to assess the full extent of his recovery. The Sotos are focusing on making August's life as consistent as possible during his recovery and rehabilitation, avoiding discussions about the cause of the crash.
August spends his winter mornings before school shoveling snow out of neighbors' driveways. This resilience and commitment have not gone unnoticed by his medical team, who emphasise the importance of staying engaged in his care as long as necessary to give him the best chance at recovery.
Advances in imaging and intervention techniques, such as PET scans, are used to monitor brain injury and guide treatment approaches, potentially improving prognosis over time. The Sotos, along with August's medical team, are hopeful for a positive outcome.
August went on a fishing trip in the Leadville area with a friend two days before the crash. The collision occurred around 5:30 p.m. and involved August's car, an SUV, and another SUV. August was later transported to another facility, put on a ventilator, and slowly taken off it.
In general, TBI recovery timelines vary widely depending on injury severity, but rehabilitation often lasts several weeks to months. Individualized rehabilitation programs typically span about 12 weeks or more and involve therapies to improve joint mobility, gait, swelling, and neurological functions. The key points for expected recovery include duration, therapy focus, prognosis, and monitoring.
The Sotos, along with August's medical team, are hopeful for a positive outcome and are committed to supporting August during his recovery. They emphasise the importance of resilience and commitment in the face of adversity. August's story serves as a reminder of the power of community support and the determination of one young athlete to overcome obstacles and return to the mat.
- The confusing aftermath of August Soto's car accident on Colo. 93 has left his family uncertain about his future in wrestling competition.
- During August Soto's recovery, his teachers, friends, and fellow students from Broomfield High School have rallied around him with food, yard work offers, and contributions to a GoFundMe for his medical costs.
- Beyond the physical hurdles of August Soto's recovery from a traumatic brain injury (TBI), his mental health also concerns his medical team.
- In the world of sports, whether it be football, rugby, or track and field, August Soto has always demonstrated resilience and commitment.
- The medical care for August Soto's TBI includes the use of advanced imaging techniques like PET scans, which help monitor the injury and guide the treatment approaches.
- August's personality, which once played a defining role in his community, has yet to fully return due to the TBI.
- Law enforcement is currently investigating the specifics of August Soto's car accident, but the Soto family has requested privacy to focus on his recovery without discussing the cause.
- August Soto's recovery timeline is uncertain, as TBI recovery times depend on injury severity, but his medical team remains hopeful for a positive outcome.
- The Sotos, alongside August's medical team, stress the importance of maintaining engagement in his treatment and rehabilitation to give him the best chance at recovery.
- August Soto's story serves as a beacon of hope and resilience in the face of adversity for the health-and-wellness, fitness-and-exercise, and mental-health communities, as well as those who have gone through car-accidents or experienced medical emergencies like him.