Alijah Arenas, the 18-year-old future USC hooper, was welcomed home with gifts and flowers after his hospital stay following a Cybertruck crash. The heartwarming moment was captured by his ex-NBA star dad, Gilbert, who shared the footage on social media.
The video shows Alijah walking into a room filled with balloons, flowers, and gifts, along with a message that read, “Welcome home, Alijah.” It was the first time we saw the high school superstar since the terrifying accident just seven days ago, and despite everything he’s been through, he looked great.
Gilbert took the opportunity to express his gratitude to the first responders who helped remove Alijah from the fiery Tesla after the crash. He mentioned that his son is eager to meet them and thanked everyone for their prayers, love, and support during Alijah’s healing process.
Although Alijah is still not at 100% recovery, his family remains optimistic. Gilbert even cracked a joke, referencing LiAngelo Ball’s popular “Tweaker” lyrics, showing that they are finding moments of levity amidst the seriousness of the situation.
In a comical twist, Alijah had previously told his friends that if he ever ended up in a coma, they should not bring flowers but instead burst in rapping “I might swerve, bend that corner, woah” by Gelo as if it were the national anthem. The irony of the situation was not lost on Alijah, who found humor in the timing of his accident and the lyrics.
Despite being placed in an induced coma due to smoke inhalation, Alijah thankfully suffered no major injuries from the crash. The support and love shown to him upon his return home are a testament to the strong bond between Alijah and his family, as they navigate this challenging time together.
