AJ

Automa’s fifteen-year-old son, AJ, was just like any other teenage boy. He wanted to be overly independent, a little rebellious, and full of life. He loved to play soccer, video games, and seemed to get lost in time while out fishing. He was still figuring things out, but he knew one thing: he wanted more out of life.

On February 28, 2025, Automa, her partner David, and AJ packed up and moved from Ohio to St. Louis looking for a fresh start. They settled in DeSoto, MO hopeful to begin again.

It only took nine days for everything to change.

On the evening of March 8, AJ walked his mom to a job interview. He was riding his bike home, and just three blocks from home, a car took a sharp turn and hit him.

“I was walking home from that interview and saw the ambulance go by me,” Automa remembers. “But I would have never thought my son was in there.”

AJ was unconscious at the scene and with no ID, they couldn’t locate his family. They raced to St. Louis Children’s Hospital and worked quickly to save his life. When AJ didn’t come home by curfew, Automa dialed 911 and received the heart stopping news that AJ was in an accident. Dispatchers brought her to the hospital where she learned of AJ’s extensive injuries.

In the three weeks that followed, he had three seizures, five strokes, significant damage to major arteries in the neck, bleeding on the brain, and a blood clot. He spent weeks in the PICU. The neuro team prepared the family for the possibility that AJ may never recover.

After encouragement from their neurosurgeon, Automa and David decided to take a chance on Ranken Jordan.

AJ’s first stay with Ranken Jordan lasted three to four months. Progress was slow, but steady. He weaned off medications and the family learned skills they never thought they would have to learn such as transfers, dressing AJ, and daily medical care.

They returned home for a short time in July. After a small change in medication in September, everything seemed to click. AJ’s progress accelerated and he returned to Ranken Jordan where milestones started to feel more like miracles.

AJ was pushing his own wheelchair. He was motivated and excited to move. One day, he worked up to even holding a fishing pole. “I cried,” Automa says. “I truly thought he would never hold one again.”

Today, AJ continues outpatient therapy at Ranken Jordan. He’s building the strength needed to use a walker, and working hard on building skills for speech and feeding. He’s back in school, learning from home and working towards sophomore status.

Through his journey at Ranken Jordan, AJ’s story is no longer defined by what was lost, but by everything still ahead.