Remember Jihad Ahmad? He is the thirteen year old high school student of Hattieville Village who had gotten a ride to Belize City last Monday morning but the teenager never got to class that day - because he was rushed barely alive to the Karl Heusner Memorial Hospital where he has been fighting for his life. It had been raining heavily that morning and Jihad who usually takes the bus missed his ride but Carolyn Rowland who also lived in the community had just left her home with three of her daughters and offered him a ride to the city.

It is still not certain what happened but the SUV was nearing the mile eight community when it collided head on with a dodge ram that was travelling in the opposite direction. A combination of speed, wet road conditions and bad tires may have contributed to the massive collision that took the lives of two and left three others badly injured. The most seriously hurt was Jihad Ahmad who lost consciousness and was put on a life support machine.

Up until last week Friday when 7News checked Jihad was still in the intensive care unit but this morning when we called the Karl Heusner Memorial Hospital to check on his condition We were surprised to find out that not only was he no longer in the ICU but he told his family he wanted to talk with us. And so we visited and as Jacqueline Godwin reports despite the fact that Jihad Ahmad still has a long way to go before he is fully recovered. What is remarkable is not just how far he has come in such a short time, but the teenager’s determination to get better which should be an inspiration to all of us.

Jacqueline Godwin Reporting,
It is hard to imagine looking at what was left of the Ford Explorer and the fact that thirteen year old Jihad Ahmad was sitting behind the driver’s seat that he survived the terrible crash. The SUV’s driver traffic warden Carolyn Rowland and her eight year old daughter Twyla Monique Jones were killed.Today marks one week since the tragedy at mile nine on the Western Highway.

Jihad Ahmad a first form student of Edward P. Yorke High School had missed the bus to attend classes in Belize City and he was offered a ride by Carolyn Rowland. For four days Jihad which means in English to struggle did just that as he remained on life support unable to breathe on his own much less talk to his family who vigilantly prayed along with countless of others for his survival. Then last Thursday what can only be described as a miracle Jihad Ahmad was not only removed from the life support machine but early this morning he was transferred from intensive care unit to the paediatric ward.

Fareed Ahmad, Brother
“Not enough words to describe the appreciation for all the people that have been praying for us, those we know and those we don’t; those who have told us and those who haven’t. But I can almost definitively say that it is the prayers that have been working for him.”

Thankfully a CAT scan revealed that jihad did not suffer any major head or brain injury but the traumatic event has affected his memory to remember what happened…all he knows that is he is lucky to be alive.

Jihad Ahmad, Recovering at KHMH
“I would like to thank the people thinking about me.”

Jacqueline Godwin,
You don’t know what can happen true?

[Jihad Ahmad Nodding Head]

Jihad Ahmad,
“I was going to catch the bus.”

Jacqueline Godwin,
Yeah I understand that morning you wanted to catch the bus to go to school.

Jihad Ahmad,
“But I missed it and this lady she came and offered me a ride.”

Jacqueline Godwin,
What do you remember?

Jihad Ahmad,
“I only remember up until mile 14 and then I dropped asleep and from there…”

Jacqueline Godwin,
How are you feeling today?

Jihad Ahmad,
“My side here hurts.”

Jacqueline Godwin,
You’re still in some pain?

Jihad Ahmad,
“Yes mom.”

Jacqueline Godwin,
But I bet you can’t wait to get out of this hospital.

Jihad Ahmad,
“Yes mom.”

Jacqueline Godwin,
What you want to tell your friends who are looking at you tonight and are praying for you and can’t wait for you to get back to school?

Jihad Ahmad,
“Just pray some more.”

Jacqueline Godwin,
Pray some more, one day at a time true?

Jihad Ahmad,
“When we were going I think the car crashed on the side. At the mercy of God I am here.”

Jacqueline Godwin,
So that means he has big plans for you Jihad.

[Jihad nods head.]

Fareed Ahmad,
“He sustained multiple facial fractures. He has a broken thigh bone, that has multiple fractures also. His dental, he will need some dental reconstruction also. But he has come out of the hardest part so that’s the greatest thing for the family.”

Jacqueline Godwin,
He has moved out of ICU so that is very promising.

Fareed Ahmad,
“Yeah.”

Jacqueline Godwin,
And off the life support system.

Fareed Ahmad,
“Yes off the life support so he is doing very very well. I feel very good about it.”

Jacqueline Godwin,
It will be a long road to recovery though noh?

Fareed Ahmad,
“Indeed. The first thing we will do is do the surgery on the thigh and then from there it will be easy for us the family to fly him out of the country to do the surgeries. It will be multiple surgeries. There are multiple fractures on the face as well as the jaw and the upper part of the mouth.”

Jacqueline Godwin,
How are you feeling because ten minutes after this terrible accident you were on the scene? You saw your brother, you saw the condition he was in, following that he has been on a life support system up until a few days ago to now where he is actually talking and smiling. You must be feeling pretty good right now.

Fareed Ahmad,
“That’s what puts a smile on my face, to remember all of that and to know where he is at now. I hear him talking about getting a slippers to go and take a walk.”

Jacqueline Godwin,
He talks about the first thing he wants to do is exercise.

Fareed Ahmad,
“Well he is very athletic and he does a lot of cycling. He is always trying to keep in shape. I guess he is supposed to participate in some school activity on sports day but I doubt that will be possible but he has that drive. He is very determined.”

Jacqueline Godwin,
Somebody is definitely looking over the good Jihad here.

Fareed Ahmad,
“The most high, God, is keeping a watchful eye over him.”

Jihad as well has not forgotten the people who have been wishing him a speedy recovery.

Jihad Ahmad,
“Thanks to everyone who have been praying for me.”

But there are many more operations that young Jihad Ahmad must undergo and this is where you can help this bright teenager and young athlete get back on his feet and in school.

Fareed Ahmad,
“He will have to do multiple surgeries. It will be costly and the cost of the surgeries we are not really sure of yet but we’ve just spoken to some doctors and they will be doing some research for us and give us a good quotation for the surgeries. If people are willing to donate to the surgeries …”

And as much as the Ahmad family is grateful that their son and brother is alive they have not forgotten the other two young survivors. Sadly Toria and Tyra Jones father had died only two months before they lost their sister and mother in the crash.

Fareed Ahmad,
“Aside from my brother being in this tragedy, that the two little girls they don’t have any parents and they probably have life very rough too. I would think that even if monies given to us towards my little brother that the family needs, those two little girls need urgent assistance also.”

Jacqueline Godwin reporting for 7News.