Colorado boy still undergoing surgeries after his father tried to kill him in a car crash

It was just eight years ago that an Arapahoe County father attempted to kill his then two-year-old son in a car accident.

Isaiah Weitzel is ten years old today and, even years later, is still struggling with the effects and consequences of this terrible accident.

Isaiah has had five surgeries since his accident in August 2016, and he is scheduled for another surgery this week. His mother added that he will likely need surgeries every two years until he stops growing, and possibly more surgeries for the rest of his life.

But despite everything, Isaiah’s mother Nancy Lopez remains strong, resilient and courageous.

Before his sixth surgery, Isaiah said, “It's a little nerve-wracking.” Eight years after his father's suicide attempt, he also has scars.

“I have a few scars here,” Isaiah said, pointing to his leg. “This is the biggest one I have, and then I have another one here on my forehead.”

In the 2016 accident in Centennial, Isaiah was not wearing a seatbelt. His father was driving at about 75 mph when he crashed his car into several parked vehicles.

According to a police affidavit, Weitzel confessed to investigators: “I tried to kill my son.” He also reportedly told investigators that the responsibility of being a father was too great and that he did not believe he was man enough to raise a child.

“But that wasn't the truth. I left him and he wanted to hurt me,” Nancy said. “And the only way he knew how to hurt me was to hurt Isaiah.”

Lopez calls it the ultimate betrayal, knowing her son is all she has. Isaiah suffered serious injuries and spent an extended period of time in the hospital. He broke his leg, needed 30 stitches in his head and is still fighting to recover.

“Everything we’ve been through has been really difficult,” Lopez said.

Years later, Isaiah needs another surgery to balance his legs and hips.

“Every surgery has been pretty difficult. In this surgery, they're going to remove four rods from his knee to continue the growth plate,” Lopez explained.

During his seventh surgery, doctors will lengthen his leg and Isaiah will have to stretch it every day using a machine.

Every hospital visit, says Lopez, is like reopening a wound.

“It's a trigger because we have to relive it and still suffer from what this man did to us,” Lopez said. “It reminds us that it's not over and it will never be over. But we're getting through this.”

Lopez said watching her son suffer was the worst part. Even though Isaiah doesn't remember what happened to him, she feels like she has to bear the burden of it all.

“It’s difficult, especially when you do it alone,” Lopez said.

Despite everything that has happened, Lopez says her son's resilience gives her strength.

“He is so brave and always so determined,” Lopez said proudly. “He is incredible. His resilience is just otherworldly.”

He is determined to enjoy life as a ten-year-old boy who enjoys karate, soccer, baseball, rock climbing and arts and crafts.

The two can also support each other.

“My mom and I are very close. We do everything together,” Isaiah said. “She has done a lot for me to make me feel happy.”

“He's really my strength. He's my little anchor. He keeps me going and he's just incredible,” Lopez said.

Isaiah said he wants to be a scientist when he grows up.

“I just want to change the world and figure out things that others haven’t figured out,” Isaiah declared.

“One day he will be something big. I feel it,” Lopez said.

Nathan Weitzel remains in prison on attempted first-degree murder charges and several other counts.

The family is raising money through an online fundraiser called “Help Support Isaiah on His Road to Recovery.”