SEATTLE — After a skateboarding accident in 2019, doctors told Rebecca Schellings that her 19-year-old son would not likely make it.
They told her to think about donating her 19-year-old son Aidan’s organs.
Five years later, Aidan Schellings, who now goes by the name Ryker, continues to prove those doctors wrong.
”I think you know we’re all amazed by how much he’s progressed since that day,” said Rebecca Schellings.
On April 29, 2019, Schellings crashed while riding a skateboard at Greenlake. He wasn’t wearing a helmet. Schellings didn’t think he had to since he was considered an expert skater.
Schellings fractured his skull and suffered a traumatic brain injury.
Within weeks, Schellings was walking and beginning to talk again.
”I always say, ‘When life gives you lemons, make orange juice,’” said Ryker Schellings, laughing.
Schellings, now 24, recently celebrated the fifth anniversary of the crash. He considers it his “staying alive” day.
In the spring of 2019 therapists at Craig Hospital, a specialty brain clinic in Colorado, found music therapy seemed to work best.
Schellings still has weekly speech and physical therapy appointments.
His right side still requires strength training, and he struggles to find the right words, but speech therapist Megan Trout said Schellings gets better every session.
”I would say out of people I've seen, Ryker's made amazing progress, some of the most progress maybe I've ever seen,” said Trout.
Schellings said he is motivated to get better so he can keep spreading the word about the importance of wearing a helmet.
He said he wants to hand out business cards this summer with QR codes showing his story to skaters who don’t think they need helmets.
Schellings wants the choice that changed his life to change the minds of others.
”Strap on a helmet. Don’t do what I did a couple of years ago, please, for my sake, for everyone else’s sake, just make sure you put a helmet on,” said Schellings.
Stay safe while skateboarding
According to the National Safety Council, in 2021, over 245,000 people were treated in hospital emergency rooms after being injured while skateboarding. Here are some ways the NSC suggests skateboarders can stay safe:
- Make sure the skateboard is in good condition. There should be no cracks, loose wheels or slippery surfaces on top.
- Wear close-toed shoes and a multi-sport helmet that fits properly.
- Practice falling on soft surfaces like grass to learn to relax your body instead of tensing up.
- Do not use headphones white skating.
For a list of ways to get free or discounted helmets in King County, click here.
Follow previous coverage of Ryker's Impact
- Survivors of traumatic head injuries pass out helmets, important message for kids in Bothell
- Seattle skateboarder who suffered traumatic brain injury urges future Olympic skaters to wear helmets
- New name, same mission for Seattle skateboarder one year after nearly fatal crash
- Seattle teen’s skateboard crash could change state helmet law
- 'Love is powerful medicine': Injured Seattle skateboarder goes home for holidays
- Helmets required at new Snoqulamie Skatepark amid push for safety
- Mothers push for helmet use after losing their sons in skateboard crashes
- Pro skater advocates for helmets while Seattle skateboarder recovers from traumatic injury
- Music helps Seattle skateboarder heal after traumatic brain injury
- Seattle skateboarder’s crash inspires others to start wearing helmets
- Seattle skateboarder’s crash could change state helmet law
- Seattle skateboarder's crash teaching lessons about helmet safety
- Seattle skateboarder improves while his traumatic injury raises helmet awareness
Seattle father hopes son's skateboarding crash will help change state helmet law