A devoted physical therapist who also serves in the Air National Guard has been tragically paralyzed following a diving accident at his family’s lake retreat.
Colin Bales, aged 31 from Park Rapids, Minnesota, endured severe spinal damage after performing a jack-knife dive into shallow water off their dock on July 4, according to his family’s report.
The dive resulted in a shattered spine, leaving him only able to communicate through blinking.
“Currently, Colin relies on a ventilator for breathing, and he cannot feel anything below his shoulders at this time,” stated a CaringBridge post on Saturday.
Following the accident, Bales was flown to Sanford Medical Center Fargo, where he remains in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) after undergoing critical emergency surgery.
His wife, Amy, hopes to transfer her beloved husband to Craig Hospital in Denver, a renowned spinal cord rehabilitation facility.
A more recent update reveals that newlywed Bales is encouraging his family to help him move his limbs five times a day.
‘Even in the hospital bed his PT training is showing,’ the post read. ‘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.