A man who miraculously survived being cut in half in a forklift accident has shared a heartbreaking update about his hopes to start a family.
Loren Schauers was just 18 years old when he was involved in a horrific accident while working in construction in 2019.
He had been driving a forklift truck across a bridge in Great Falls, Montana, when it veered off course and plummeted 50 feet, trapping him underneath while he remained conscious.
Schauers' pelvis was completely crushed in the incident, he lost his right arm, and he had to undergo hemicorpectomy surgery - having everything below the waist amputated - in order to save his life.
The now-24-year-old was supported in his lengthy recovery and rehabilitation by his wife, Sabia Reiche, and the couple grew a dedicated following by sharing their story online.
Schauers has now spoken out in his first ever media interview with a UK publication, sharing an update on their plans to start a family.
Early last year, Schauers had opened up about his desire to have children with his wife through adoption or a donor.
However, he told the Daily Mail that their dream of being parents may not come to be, explaining: "We would like to have a family of our own but given how much of a problem my care has been, I don't really see it in the cards for us.
"Unless we really buckle down, start saving and planning for a future with kids, having a caregiver in place of Sabia for my care and then taking care of kids.
"With all the extracurricular activities that come with raising children, it really wouldn't be fair of us to bring a child or adopt a child in life and saddle them with a lifestyle like ours, just not conducive for raising children in my opinion."
Despite regaining some of his independence through the use of prosthetics and a wheelchair, Schauers still requires round the clock care due to his complex injuries.
The pair got married in 2021 and Sabia is her husband's primary caregiver, with the pair making a living through their online platform.
Schauers also revealed that he has little contact with his own family as he says they "all quit showing up and providing any support" once they realized he was going to survive.
He added: "Once I got home my friends and family came around but quickly I noticed it was to more see what's up than caring about me. They just wanted to see the spectacle."
Schauers added that he will occasionally reach out to his family to tell them he loves and misses them but says they rarely reach out to him first.
He spoke highly of his half sister, who he credits with helping save his life by suggesting the hemicorpectomy surgery as an option to doctors after his accident, saying she has been a constant support to him and his wife.