The OHMI Trust often supports musicians who have faced life-changing events. Over recent months, we have had the honour of getting to know Illinois saxophonist Aiden Post and his mum Carol. Aiden’s determination to heal from a traumatic brain injury is a story of hope, and one to share for others who may be facing a similar situation.
Aiden
In December 2024, the vehicle that 18-year-old Aiden Post, his father Jon and older brother Owen were travelling in was hit by an articulated lorry. Both Jon and Aiden were critically injured, with Aiden suffering a skull fracture, facial fractures, and a broken neck. A portion of his skull was removed to keep the swelling in his brain under control and his heart stopped five times during those early hours. Over the coming weeks, a wired jaw (to aid healing) made verbal communication impossible. Fortuitously, Aiden’s knowledge of American Sign Language meant he was able to tell his family that he loved them.
Aiden’s 7-week hospital stay was followed by outpatient occupational therapy, physiotherapy, speech therapy, and surgery to repair his skull and improve the strength in his left hand. It was clear the journey to healing and back to the music-making – such a big part in Aiden’s life – would be a long one.
Prior to the accident, Aiden was a star saxophonist in the jazz band at Richwoods High School, Illinois. As well as the alto saxophone, he found time to play bass and acoustic guitar and to participate in cross country running.
Aside from the fatigue that a brain injury brings, there have been two real impacts on Aiden’s music making. Firstly, the ability to play a heavy instrument with a left hand not at full strength. Secondly, losing vision in one eye and the peripheral vision in his other impairs his ability to read music. Aiden and his family were convinced, however, that making music would be critical to his overall recovery and set out to find an adapted saxophone that he would be able to play one-handed. They contacted David Nabb, a saxophone professor at Nebraska Kearney University who plays the one-handed saxophone following a stroke. His one-handed saxophone was unfortunately already out on lease, but he was able to introduce Aiden and Carol to the OHMI Trust. Aiden has been practising his one-handed OHMI saxophone for up to an hour every couple of days. “I’m really enjoying playing it” he says with a smile, adding that “it’s not a whole lot different to a normal tenor sax. I occasionally give my alto a shot too.”
For Carol, the value that music-making adds to Aiden’s life is very clear. “Of course, we know the importance of music in helping to create new neural paths but more than that, I can definitely see more of Aiden’s personality when he’s back to playing.”
So what next for this young man who his mum describes as having ‘unending patience’? He has now graduated from high school and, in August, starts enhanced lessons at a local community college. Whilst not a full College load, it gives Aiden valuable time with a professor and director of a jazz band. It is experience he can most certainly use in the career he wishes to follow – that of a music educator at high school, college or university.
Advice to musicians after traumatic injury
Both Carol and Aiden are clear on what has helped the family to heal over recent months.
“We’ve realised there is no set path to recovery after an accident like this. Each individual has to find his or her way” Carol describes. “Our family has had such an outpouring of support, including from the 800 or so people who formed a parade to welcome Aiden home as well as our church, family, and high school clubs who all put on fundraisers to help us.
“Inevitably, there are people who aren’t as present once the ‘new’ wears off but there will always be those who stay the distance. My advice would be to accept help when you need it and to hunt down and tap into as many resources as possible.”
“The night of the crash was not the end of my life,” says Aiden. “For any other person finding themselves in a similar situation, I would say try to figure out which one-handed instruments you can learn and don’t give up! Progress may not be immediate but waiting will only allow the healing to go by.”
Anyone wishing to follow Aiden’s story can do so on Carol Post’s Facebook page.
Aiden’s 7-week hospital stay was followed by outpatient occupational therapy, physiotherapy, speech therapy, and surgery to repair his skull and improve the strength in his left hand. It was clear the journey to healing and back to the music-making – such a big part in Aiden’s life – would be a long one.
Prior to the accident, Aiden was a star saxophonist in the jazz band at Richwoods High School, Illinois. As well as the alto saxophone, he found time to play bass and acoustic guitar and to participate in cross country running.
Aside from the fatigue that a brain injury brings, there have been two real impacts on Aiden’s music making. Firstly, the ability to play a heavy instrument with a left hand not at full strength. Secondly, losing vision in one eye and the peripheral vision in his other impairs his ability to read music. Aiden and his family were convinced, however, that making music would be critical to his overall recovery and set out to find an adapted saxophone that he would be able to play one-handed. They contacted David Nabb, a saxophone professor at Nebraska Kearney University who plays the one-handed saxophone following a stroke. His one-handed saxophone was unfortunately already out on lease, but he was able to introduce Aiden and Carol to the OHMI Trust. Aiden has been practising his one-handed OHMI saxophone for up to an hour every couple of days. “I’m really enjoying playing it” he says with a smile, adding that “it’s not a whole lot different to a normal tenor sax. I occasionally give my alto a shot too.”
For Carol, the value that music-making adds to Aiden’s life is very clear. “Of course, we know the importance of music in helping to create new neural paths but more than that, I can definitely see more of Aiden’s personality when he’s back to playing.”
So what next for this young man who his mum describes as having ‘unending patience’? He has now graduated from high school and, in August, starts enhanced lessons at a local community college. Whilst not a full College load, it gives Aiden valuable time with a professor and director of a jazz band. It is experience he can most certainly use in the career he wishes to follow – that of a music educator at high school, college or university.
Advice to musicians after traumatic injury
Both Carol and Aiden are clear on what has helped the family to heal over recent months.
“We’ve realised there is no set path to recovery after an accident like this. Each individual has to find his or her way” Carol describes. “Our family has had such an outpouring of support, including from the 800 or so people who formed a parade to welcome Aiden home as well as our church, family, and high school clubs who all put on fundraisers to help us.
“Inevitably, there are people who aren’t as present once the ‘new’ wears off but there will always be those who stay the distance. My advice would be to accept help when you need it and to hunt down and tap into as many resources as possible.”
“The night of the crash was not the end of my life,” says Aiden. “For any other person finding themselves in a similar situation, I would say try to figure out which one-handed instruments you can learn and don’t give up! Progress may not be immediate but waiting will only allow the healing to go by.”
Anyone wishing to follow Aiden’s story can do so on Carol Post’s Facebook page.
The night of the crash was not the end of my life. For any other person finding themselves in a similar situation, I would say try to figure out which one-handed instruments you can learn and don't give up! Progress may not be immediate but waiting will only allow the healing to go by."
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The OHMI Trust is a registered charity (Registered in England and Wales Charity No. 1143623, Scotland Charity No. SC052047).
Registered office: 29 Woodbourne Road, Harborne, Birmingham, B17 8BY
All content © OHMI - Enabling Music-Making for Physically Disabled People
The OHMI Trust is a registered charity (Registered in England and Wales Charity No. 1143623, Scotland Charity No. SC052047).
Registered office: 29 Woodbourne Road, Harborne, Birmingham, B17 8BY