Drawing Strength from Community, a Young Man Defies the Odds

Friends of Rayyan gathered at Helen Hayes for Friendsgiving“The boy that left the house today is not going to come home.” Those were the surgeon’s dire words to the family of Rayyan Mian, assessing the young man’s condition after a terrifying motorcycle accident on March 1st, 2024. Rayyan, age 20, lay in a medically induced coma and his brain scans showed such severe trauma that doctors could not offer hope to the stunned family in the waiting room at Westchester Medical Center.

Though we often imagine motorcycle accidents occurring on highways, this one happened only feet from the Mian family home on Mamaroneck Road in Scarsdale. Rayyan, who was in his junior year at Lehigh, was home to celebrate his 20th birthday. What did he want as a gift? A motorcycle. His parents steadfastly refused. Unable to convince them to buy him a bike, Rayyan used his own accumulated savings to purchase one. Before riding the bike on public streets, he took it across the road to the parking lot of the Saxon Woods Golf Course to get some practice riding there.

Around 6 pm on March 1st, the family got a panicked call from Rayyan’s friend Adam. Rayyan had lost control of the bike and rode full throttle into a tree. The family ran across the street to find Rayyan on the ground in a pool of blood. He had severe trauma to his head and face.

Scarsdale Village Ambulance Corps arrived within minutes and intubated Rayyan at the scene and transported him to Westchester Medical Center.

The surgeon offered little hope, saying there was extensive brain damage, the situation was bleak and he was unsure if Rayyan would make it through the night. He said he would need to perform a procedure to relieve pressure from the swelling brain by removing a portion of Rayyan’s skull.

Friends of Rayyan, and friends of his parents, all gathered at the hospital to wait out the procedure, staying until they got word from the surgeon at 4 am.

Then the agonizing wait began. Rayyan remained in a coma for 40 days, with an open skull from the surgery, 17 facial fractures and a tracheotomy. During this period, no one knew if the injuries were permanent or if there was a possibility that he would regain some functioning.

Family and friends maintained a vigil at his bedside, playing tunes from Rayyan’s playlist, reading to him and holding his hand.

After a month and a half at Westchester Medical Center, the next stop was Helen Hayes Rehabilitation Hospital in West Haverstraw, a 50 minute drive from Scarsdale. The hospital specializes in treating traumatic brain injuries and there Rayyan received several more surgeries and rehab. A shunt was inserted to drain the fluid from his brain, facial reconstructive surgery was done to repair all the broken bones in his face and in July a cranioplasty was done to replace the piece of his missing skull.

Through it all his parents, his sister and Scarsdale friends were by his side.

During many long months, Rayyan still had a trach tube in his windpipe to ensure that he could breathe. It prevented him from speaking or eating, but he managed to communicate by writing questions and answers to his visitors.

A summer visit with friends.Once the trach was removed, Rayyan rallied – and could even explain to others what had happened to him. He began to speak again and eat, defying the doctor’s negative prognosis. His friends set up large inspirational poster boards in his room and visited as often as they could. He was immediately responsive to music, bobbing his head to the beat and singing lyrics to songs he didn’t even know before the accident.

As the family is Muslim, they added spiritual songs to the mix which also stirred Rayyan who had gone on an Umrah, a religious pilgrimage to Saudi Arabia just two months before the accident.

At Helen Hayes he made steady progress, learning to speak and eat and to walk again. Though for now he is still dependent on his wheelchair, he can take 300 steps a day with support and will be able to walk on his own again. He is also making an incredible recovery cognitively; he has maintained his famous sense of humor and his long-term memory seems to be intact. He is able to connect and laugh with his loved ones as he did before the accident.

Rayyan’s family shares, “He has always had every single type of friend, across religious and ethnic backgrounds; Rayyan is gifted at Following the accident, sister Sophie moved home to see Rayyan through.bringing everyone together through his sense of humor and love of people.” Sister Sophie said, “Rayyan has a beautiful heart. It takes a village to pull through something as traumatic as this, but it is easy to have a village rally behind you when you are as special as he is.”

This past summer, SHS friend Adrian Duval from the Class of 2022 helped organize a fundraiser for Rayyan called #RYStrong. In an amazing show of support, more than 350 students donated a total of $5,500 for Think First, a traumatic brain injury prevention organization. Those who donated were given bracelets that say #RYStrong. About Rayyan, Duval said, “He was instrumental in bringing all the guys together during our senior year of high school. He is hilarious and honest, and always says what he thinks.”

Along the way, the family was assisted by others who had experienced similar traumas. Anne Moretti, whose son Luke suffered a spinal cord injury during college came forward to speak with Asim and Ayesha Mian and offer support, resources and hope.
Thanksgiving weekend was another milestone, when 27 Scarsdale friends came to the hospital for a Friendsgiving, to cheer on their friend who is slated to go home on December 18, 2024.

Cary Fuchsman, whose stepson Ethan Rifkin is a friend of Rayyan’s came along to the hospital. He said, “When Ethan mentioned he was going to visit Rayyan at Helen Hayes Hospital for a Friendsgiving, I asked him if it would be okay if I joined him. I remember only good things about Rayyan throughout the years. He is respectful, polite, kind, smart and always has a smile on his face. In general, I can tell he has a great soul. Since his accident, I had been thinking of him and his family and how difficult it is for them to navigate through the decision process for Rayyan’s care in order for him to make the best possible recovery. When I arrived at the hospital, I was super excited to see Rayyan’s recovery progress and additionally moved by seeing the support of over twenty of his good friends engaging with Rayyan and catching-up with him IN PERSON to see how he was doing.

Rayyan and his parents.Every person visiting Rayyan had the chance to speak to him directly and Rayyan recognized every one of them including myself.
It is truly remarkable how Rayyan has an emotional connection and a deeply positive impact on the lives of so many of his friends.
I also had the chance to meet Rayyan’s Family (Dad, Mom, Grandma and Sister). I only have terrific things to say about them. Their unconditional support and love for Rayyan is beyond anything I could explain.

Rayyan is a lucky person, the love and support from his family, friends and community is priceless as is his strength and determination to fully recover from his injuries.”

When the surgeon asked Rayyan for the reason behind his success, he said, “I believe in myself.” His family attributes his resilience to his spirituality, his friendships, his sense of humor and his love of life.

When Rayyan comes home in December he will continue his therapy as an outpatient at Burke Rehabilitation Center. He is looking forward to regaining his independence and getting his life back on track.

And his family and friends are looking forward to having him back in the neighborhood where they can see his progress every day.
Maybe the same boy that left the house on March 1st will not come back, but ten months later, Rayyan Mian, a boy with a renewed appreciation for his family, his friends, his community and his health will defy all expectations and make his way home.

To contribute to #rystrong, Venmo Sophie Mian @sophiemian with the caption #rystrong.