A young teenage girl who was in a serious bike crash in Waterford will need multiple surgeries to reconstruct her jaw.
Adrija Sipaila was cycling home from school in Dungarvan in May this year when she was involved in a collision with a car and sent flying from her bike.
She suffered horrific injuries and was airlifted to Cork University Hospital in a critical condition. Adrija broke bother her upper and lower jaw bones, lost six front teeth, split her chin, suffered a broken collarbone and a huge wound on her thigh.
She now faces years of surgeries and complex dental treatment to restore her mouth and teeth and help her "smile again".
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Her father, Julius Sipaila, has launched a GoFundMe fundraiser following the "unimaginable disaster" to help pay for her medical treatment which will need to be carried out in Lithuania.
Writing in the description he described the moment he found his daughter immediately after the accident. He was unsure if she was able to hear him and asked her to lift a finger if she could, writing: "[I] found Adrija unconscious on the bike path about 3-4 metres from a car, with a huge wound on her thigh and multiple wounds on her head.
"There was lots of blood on and around her. One of volunteers were holding Adrijas head to avoid further movement and possible spine damage. I took that responsibility and started talking hoping she hears me...
"And she did!!! I saw her mouth had the worst impact so l asked her to lift any finger if she hears me. She never opened her eyes that day, but she lifted an index finger."
He appealed to the public to help towards the cost of the treatment which will be carried out by top doctors in Lithuania.
Explaining the future medical treatment needed, he wrote: "[Because] of broken lower jaw, nerves were damaged more teeth died and they need replacement to implants in the future.
"Best case Adrija will get implants in around 3 year time, but until then she has to undergo lots of surgeries, jaw bone and gums grafts and transplants in multiple stages, teeth alignment.
"We do ask for your help, because we alone - can't do much, but with the help of all of You, I believe that we will help Adrija to regain a full life."
The GoFundMe page has already raised over €5,000 out of a €40,000 goal.
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