A well-known physical therapist and member of the Air National Guard has been paralyzed following a tragic diving accident at his family’s lake house.
Colin Bales, 31, from Park Rapids, Minnesota, sustained devastating spinal injuries on July 4 after performing a jack-knife dive from the dock into shallow water, according to his family.
The collision caused severe damage to his spine and left him communicating only through blinks.
“Colin is currently on a ventilator to help him breathe and, at this time, is unable to feel his body below his shoulders,” his family wrote in a Saturday update on CaringBridge.
Bales was flown by air ambulance to Sanford Medical Center Fargo, where he remains in the intensive care unit after undergoing emergency surgery.
His wife, Amy, is hoping to have him moved to Craig Hospital in Denver, a leading rehabilitation center for patients with spinal cord injuries.
In a more recent update, his family said the newlywed has been urging them to help move his arms and legs five times a day.
“Even in the hospital bed his PT training is showing,” the update said. “He’s communicating with us by mouthing words and blinking.”
Colin Bales, 31, of Park Rapids, Michigan, was severely injured in a diving accident at his lake house on July 4
Bales is a beloved physical therapist and and Air National Guard member
‘He mouths “I love you” to Amy a lot and tells us he has the best family.’
In a later update that same day, the website said Bales was already showing signs of significant progress in his recovery.
The physical therapist can now feel pressure three inches lower on the right side of his chest and has also been cleared to sit in different positions.
It is hoped he may eventually move to a chair with therapy, although he has a long road to recovery ahead.
Physical and occupational therapists have started range-of-motion exercises, while his family continues helping him keep his joints mobile throughout the day.
A Tuesday update shared that Bales endured a tough night but continues to fight forward.
‘Colin worked with physical therapy today and was able to sit at the edge of the bed with assistance for a short while,’ the update stated, adding that he felt a little more pain after that.
As of Wednesday, the neurosurgery team cleared Bales for a second surgery to stabilize his neck.
‘This surgery will provide more stability to the neck long term so he is able to complete more aggressive rehab therapies and give him the best outcome possible,’ the CaringBridge stated.
Bales has been in the military since he was 18 years old, including a deployment to Jordan
His wife Amy hopes to transfer Bales to the a leading spinal cord specialist – Craig Hospital in Denver
Bales’ family says he is a ‘giving and caring person’
Bales is known as a ‘devoted husband, son, brother, uncle, and friend,’ and ‘exceptional physical therapist’
‘[It] should be a straightforward and relatively short stabilizing procedure according to Dr. Drofa, who will be performing the surgery.’
Once he is medically cleared and able to travel to Craig Hospital in Denver, Bales is expected to spend two to four months there undergoing intensive rehabilitation, his family said.
A benefit fund has been created to help cover mounting medical costs.
The fundraiser estimates expenses, including air transport, rehabilitation, equipment, lost income and long-term care, could total $500,000 to $1 million.
Bales has served in the Air National Guard since he was 18 years old, including a deployment to Jordan, his fundraiser stated.
He is a ‘devoted husband, son, brother, uncle, and friend,’ and ‘exceptional physical therapist and beloved by his patients.’
‘Anyone who knows Colin knows him as a giving and caring person—the kind of person who is always willing to lend a helping hand when someone else needs it,’ the fundraiser added.
