Helping others is an instinct that comes naturally for Hoover resident Steven Edmondson.

Despite being a full-time college student working a full-time job, Edmondson's friends and family say he always takes time to assist others. Need a ride to an important appointment but lack transportation? Edmondson will be your personal chauffeur. He stayed at a friend's house for about 10 months last year to help his best friend take care of her grandmother, who has Alzheimer's.

Those are just some of the reasons why many people are rallying behind the 24-year-old who nearly lost both legs and his left arm Saturday night in a head-on collision on U.S. Highway 31 in Homewood. Edmondson was traveling northbound on the highway when his vehicle was struck by a person driving on the wrong side of the road. Homewood police are still investigating the circumstances of the wreck.

Edmondson was rushed to UAB Hospital for emergency surgery. A portion of his left arm was amputated and both legs were shattered from the femur down. Friend and coworker, Fabien Gillis, started a GoFundMe account to help with expenses. With a series of surgeries left to go, Edmondson will be out of work for at least a couple of months to recover. As of Wednesday, more than $10,000 of the $20,000 goal has been raised since the account opened three days ago.

Edmondson works as a manager, dispatcher and driver for TakeOut, a locally-owned restaurant delivery service. On Saturday, March 11, TakeOut will be dedicating 20 percent of total sales to the fundraiser.

"He has helped so many of our restaurants with on-the-side work for free just to help them," Gillis said. "He is the guy that will give you the shirt off his back, which he has often. He is the guy who never complains but struggles to get by."

Steven Edmondson (left) and his fiance Cody Henderson (right)

Edmondson's fiance, Cody Henderson, said his partner is a guru of positive energy. Edmondson starts his day by texting or calling people to see what they need. Henderson said Edmondson would feed the hungry despite his own financial struggles. If someone just needs a listening ear, he will be there with a stubborn smile and support, forgetting his own busy schedule. For about three weeks, Edmondson took another coworker's shift while they were recovering from medical issues. Henderson said his fiance does all these things not for the glory, but for the good.

"He reaches out to each person by himself. He hasn't organized a big thing by himself, but if you add everyone (he has helped) up, that's a massive number," Henderson said. "He puts people to shame with his attitude even in his darkest days. He manages to make time for everyone. I don't know how he does it."

Edmondson has been labeled a miracle by doctors and nurses at the hospital, his brother Jonathan Edmondson said. His family was told that many accident victims with the same injuries have died. But even after two surgeries and heavy sedation, Jonathan said his brother is fighting for his life.

Jonathan wouldn't be surprised if his brother turned this accident into a moving tale. Along with his college classwork, Steven was studying to take the test to become a licensed fitness instructor in April. Jonathan has faith his brother will continue that dream.

"This may look bad to us, but he will come out of this like, 'Oh, I'm alive,'" Jonathan said. "He has a purpose that has not been made yet. Even though this is bad, this is pushing him to his purpose. He is stronger than this."

Until he awakens completely, both strangers and friends are becoming Steven Edmondson's lifeline of encouragement on his GoFundMe page.

You are the most inspiring person. You will recover and you will still be limitless, Tyler Bell said.

Stay strong, even strangers are hoping for the best for you, Allysen Quarto said.

If Steven Edmondson was awake to see all the messages, he would ask encouragers not to worry about him, Henderson said. He would try to use his energy to send texts and make phone calls and tell them to do one thing.

"Just smile," Henderson said. "That's what he always did no matter what. It was very contagious. We ask people to continue to pray for him and keep him in their thoughts."