SMILING for the camera on a sun-soaked beach in Thailand, Adam Elnekaveh had never felt better.
As a top fitness influencer, he was in the shape of his life and enjoying a hard-earned break with his best mate after celebrating the launch of his new health app.
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But what should have been a dream holiday quickly turned into an living nightmare that left him with severe brain damage, while his horrified family were forced to plan his funeral.
On May 28, 2018, the then-27-year-old was briefly pronounced dead after a traumatic motorbike crash left parts of his brain splattered on the road.
Doctors told his devastated family that even if he ever woke up, he would be barely able to talk or move for the rest of his life.
Now, in an exclusive chat with The Sun, Adam, 34, reveals how he miraculously defied the odds and makes a heartfelt plea to parents who have had to tragically care for children in a coma.
The fitness buff, from Los Angeles, and his best mate were riding motorbikes without helmets in Thailand when police stopped them and issued a fine.
But after paying it, he made a reckless decision that would haunt him forever.
“I stubbornly took my helmet off again,” he admits. “After a while, my best friend stopped his motorcycle and said there was a problem with it and it didn’t feel right.
“As I was a seasoned motorcyclist, I told him to give me his bike as he didn’t know what he was doing. It felt good. I went fast to tease my friend in an egotistical way.
“In the end, we don’t know what happened – whether I slipped or something hit me. But the bike gave out and I fell off.
“I hit my head against the ground with such force that my skull was cracked and my brain was exposed and could be seen. Also, the oil from the motorcycle shot up into my brain.”
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Adam was rushed into surgery, where doctors were forced to remove the part of his brain that had been contaminated by motorcycle oil.
“Fifteen per cent of my skull right now is made of plastic,” he says.
When surgeons spoke to his family and said he had suffered a traumatic brain injury, they didn’t hold back.
Adam explains: “After the operation, they told my parents that there was no way I was ever going to wake up.
“They gave them so many scenarios – one was that I’d be [incapacitated] for the rest of my life, and in the best-case scenario, I would be paralysed.
“At one point, they even pronounced me dead.”
Forced to plan funeral
Adam’s heartbroken parents had flown in from the US and were struggling to process the horrifying news. They were forced to consider the harrowing task of preparing for his funeral.
“My parents were devastated. My mum was on the phone crying to her siblings constantly,” he says.
“There was nothing wrong with me before, and all of a sudden, they got a phone call from my friend yelling and screaming: ‘Adam fell. I can see parts of his brain lying on the floor.'”
But despite the dire prognosis, they refused to give up. Adam was flown back to the US, where his parents brought him home, fearing the worst.
Then, something happened that left everyone – including the doctors – speechless.
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Ten days after falling into a coma, Adam opened his eyes to the shock of his parents.
“The first thing I remember was seeing people from the hospital in my apartment to check up on me,” he recalls.
“They had been sent to see if it was still possible for me to stay at home without being in the hospital.
“When my parents saw I had woken up, they were very stunned and discombobulated.
“The doctors could not believe their eyes. They ended up apologising to my parents because they were sending them hospice paperwork, saying there was no way I would ever move again.”
Endless battle
Waking up was only the beginning of an excruciating battle. Adam had lost his memory, which only started returning three months after the crash.
It took a full year for him to start walking again.
He recalls: “I went through four months of having a wheelchair, and after that, I had three months of walking with a cane. Then there were another two months of being in a leg brace.
He endured endless painful rehab and therapy sessions to help him learn to walk and function properly.
“In all, it took about a year to completely come off all assisted devices. The recovery was agonising, but I always used to say, ‘I can’t go to the post office and return my body.'”
They told my parents that there was no way I was ever going to wake up. At one point, they even pronounced me dead
Adam Elnekaveh
Before the crash, Adam was living life as a rising fitness star. He had always been popular with women and took pride in his chiselled body.
“I had over 80,000 followers on social media and was on every popular fitness YouTube channel,” he says.
“I had everything – massive strength and capability. Growth wasn’t difficult. Nothing felt difficult for me.
“But now I don’t even want to look at myself in the mirror. Sometimes I forget to fix my hair or fix my shirt collar.
“Also, I hit the right side of my brain. The right hemisphere controls the left side of your body. So my left arm and my left leg are not functional completely.
“I can use my fingers, I can move my toes, but it’s tough to bend my knee, and it’s tough to completely move my left arm.”
Guilt trip
On top of his physical struggles, Adam admits he was tormented by guilt.
He says: “I had so much guilt, absolutely. I had conversations with my mum, and she said, ‘If you had just worn the helmet after the police officer gave you a ticket, this would have never happened.’
“Eventually, the guilt settles, but right now, everything feels like a dream. My biggest hardship now is carrying my body around because half of my body is very heavy and tired.”
Caring for someone with brain damage
CARING for a loved one with brain damage can be a challenging journey, but with the right approach, you can make a significant difference in their recovery and quality of life.
Here are some top tips to guide you, according to experts.
- Educate Yourself About Brain Injury – Understanding the specific type of brain injury your loved one has sustained is crucial. Familiarize yourself with the potential physical, cognitive, and emotional changes they may experience. This knowledge will equip you to provide better support and anticipate their needs.
- Establish a Consistent Routine – People recovering from brain injuries often benefit from structured and predictable daily routines. Consistency can help reduce confusion and anxiety, making it easier for them to navigate daily activities.
- Simplify the Environment – Create a calm and organized living space by minimizing clutter and avoiding unnecessary changes. A simple, familiar environment can help your loved one feel more comfortable and reduce overstimulation.
- Communicate Clearly and Patiently – Use simple language and speak slowly when communicating. Allow ample time for your loved one to process information and respond. Patience is key, as they may struggle with understanding or expressing themselves.
- Encourage Independence – Support your loved one in performing tasks they are capable of, even if it takes longer. Encouraging independence can boost their confidence and aid in their rehabilitation. However, be ready to assist when necessary to ensure safety.
- Monitor and Manage Behavioral Changes – Brain injuries can lead to changes in behavior and personality. If your loved one exhibits inappropriate or thoughtless behaviour, gently remind them of appropriate social conduct. Understand that these changes are often a result of the injury and not intentional.
- Take Care of Yourself – Caregiving can be physically and emotionally demanding. Ensure you take time for self-care, seek support from friends, family, or caregiver support groups, and consider professional help if needed. Remember, looking after your own well-being enables you to provide better care for your loved one.
- Seek Professional Support – Engage with healthcare professionals, such as physiotherapists, occupational therapists, and speech therapists, to develop a comprehensive care plan tailored to your loved one’s needs. They can provide valuable guidance and support throughout the recovery process.
Despite everything he has been through, Adam refuses to let his injuries define him. He has battled through PTSD, learning to adapt to his new life.
He says: “I do have a sense of PTSD. Sometimes I can’t even watch the TV because I think, ‘Wow, life is happening there. Why don’t I experience it myself?'”
But with his book Rebuilding Adam: The Tragedy, he hopes his story will inspire families with loved ones in comas to never lose faith.
“I want them to know they should never lose belief,” he says. “The doctors told my parents this was over, and they fought and pushed and yelled because they believed their son was going to recover.
“And I did recover. I have a house, I have a car, I’m dating, and I have my own business.
“I’m travelling – I have been to Israel, Miami, and all over the country. I’m still getting things done because, in part, my parents never stopped believing in me.
“So don’t ever stop believing that your son or daughter can wake up from a coma one day.
“Time is the ultimate healing factor.”
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