Colin Bales, 31, of Park Rapids, Minnesota, suffered catastrophic spinal injuries on July 4 after a diving accident at his family's lake house. The impact of the jack-knife dive into shallow water shattered his spine, leaving him unable to feel his body below his shoulders and able to communicate only through blinks and mouthing words. He is currently on a ventilator and in the Intensive Care Unit at Sanford Medical Center Fargo, where he has undergone emergency surgery.
Bales, who has served in the Air National Guard since he was 18 and deployed to Jordan, is a physical therapist and is described by his family as a "giving and caring person." His wife, Amy, hopes to transfer him to Craig Hospital in Denver, a facility specializing in spinal cord rehabilitation. Although newlywed Bales is currently unable to move his limbs, his physical therapy training is evident as he works with his family to move his limbs five times daily. He has reportedly mouthed "I love you" to his wife and expressed appreciation for his family.
Recent updates indicate progress in his recovery. Bales can now feel pressure three inches lower on his chest and has been cleared to sit in different positions. He recently sat at the edge of his bed with assistance during a physical therapy session, though this increased his pain. His neurosurgery team has cleared him for a second surgery to stabilize his neck, which is intended to provide long-term stability for more aggressive rehabilitation therapies and improve his outcome.
Once medically cleared and able to travel, Bales is expected to spend two to four months at Craig Hospital for intensive rehabilitation. A benefit fund has been established to help cover estimated medical expenses, which could range from $500,000 to $1 million, encompassing air transport, rehabilitation, equipment, lost income, and long-term care.