Support for Maestas Family

This has been a difficult week for the Maestas family. On Wednesday morning, November 8th, 2017, they received word that their son, Niko Maestas, was involved in a horrific accident while riding his motorcycle to school. He is currently earning his master’s degree in architecture at The University of Texas at Austin after receiving his bachelor’s degree in architecture at the University of New Mexico in 2016. Niko is an extremely talented young man in school and he has always been a caring and giving person because of the way he was raised. Growing up Niko and his family would always be helping others, including my family, no matter what help they may have needed themselves. This family has always put everyone else first but themselves for as long as my family and I have known them. My most recent favorite memory of his big heart is driving my dad from New Mexico to Phoenix the day my baby girl was born, just weeks after Niko graduated with his bachelor’s degree, just so my dad could meet his first grandchild. I will forever be grateful for such a huge act of kindness. Completely selfless.

Niko’s injuries are beyond horrific. He has multiple fractures on his skull, face, spine, and limbs. The day of the accident Niko had emergency surgery performed on a lung that was severely damaged by the impact. The other lung has severe punctures from broken ribs and he is currently on a ventilator to help him breathe. His pulmonary state is profound as he is losing roughly 70% of the air that is provided to him by the ventilator. He has a cerebral fluid leak with brain swelling and has lost so much blood that he is requiring transfusions. He is currently in a medically induced coma because of the trauma his body endured during the accident. We can only pray that he can make a full recovery, which could take months to years after assessing the remainder of the damages endured to him.

The Maestas family has endless waiting to do based on so many unknowns of their little boy right now. I can’t even fathom the help they will need in medical costs that have already occurred and have yet to come. Even if Niko makes a fully recovery (God willing he does), therapy alone will be extremely costly. Since they are originally from Albuquerque, NM, it is a 12-hour drive to Austin, a drive that must have seemed like forever without knowing the condition of their only son. While not being able to be at home, they will incur costs being on the road needing gas, food, a place to sleep, etc. Unfortunately, they have to think of all these expenses while their hearts break not knowing what the future holds for their precious, talented, and loving, Niko. Together, we can try to make the practical side of all this a little easier for them so they can focus on the decisions they need to make for Niko. I know that every generous prayer and donation given to them will help them heal. Prayer is a powerful thing. Please pray for them and donate if you can. Thank you.