The Fourth of July was supposed to mark a fresh start for Colin and Amy Bales after one of the hardest years of their lives. Instead, a split-second accident at their Minnesota lake house left Colin with a catastrophic spinal cord injury and an uncertain future.
The couple, both 31, married in September 2024 and had recently finished renovating their home in Park Rapids. The project followed a painful period that included a pregnancy loss and serious health problems Amy says were linked to mold exposure inside the house.
“If there was anyone who deserved a season of rest, it was Colin,” Amy told PEOPLE. “After spending more than a year rebuilding our home, carrying our family through one crisis after another, and loving me so selflessly through my own health struggles, it finally seemed like it was his turn to simply enjoy life.”
“Instead,” she continued, “in a matter of seconds, everything changed.”
Colin and Amy were hosting relatives and friends for a holiday gathering when Colin, a physical therapist, decided to go swimming.
He ran down the dock and dove into the lake, not realizing the water was too shallow.
“The water was too shallow, and he suffered a devastating cervical spinal cord injury,” Amy said. “It happened in an instant and completely changed our lives.”
Those nearby pulled Colin from the water and kept him conscious and breathing while they waited for emergency crews to arrive.
He was airlifted to Sanford Medical Center in Fargo, North Dakota, where surgeons performed an emergency operation to stabilize his spine.
Colin remained in the intensive care unit for more than two weeks. On July 21, he was transferred to Craig Hospital in Denver, a facility specializing in spinal cord rehabilitation.
Doctors have not yet been able to determine how much function Colin may regain because the injury is still so recent.
“Because his injury is still so recent, it’s too early for doctors to give an official prognosis or know the full extent of his recovery,” Amy said. “Right now, the focus is on protecting his healing, managing his medical needs and helping him regain as much function as possible.”
His days are now filled with physical therapy, occupational therapy, respiratory treatment, nursing care and constant medical monitoring.
Amy described the rehabilitation process as “incredibly demanding,” but said her husband continues to fight through every session.
In addition to working as a physical therapist, Colin serves with the Air National Guard’s 119th Wing Civil Engineer Squadron in Fargo.
“We know this will be a long journey, but we’re taking it one day at a time,” Amy said, calling the injury “catastrophic.”
The couple’s family, friends and community have rallied around them since the accident.
Amy, who works as a recruiter, said they have “never felt more loved.”
“Friends have stepped in without being asked, complete strangers have become prayer warriors, and every text, meal, donation, visit and message reminds us that we’re not walking this road alone,” she said.
To help Colin and the family remain focused on progress, Amy created a “daily wins board” in his hospital room.
Every evening, they write down the day’s victories, no matter how small.
“Some days, it’s a successful therapy session, stable vitals, a little more sensation, or simply getting good rest,” Amy explained. “In the middle of such a life-changing injury, it’s easy to focus on everything that’s been lost. The wins board reminds us to celebrate every step forward.”
Although doctors cannot yet predict what Colin’s recovery will look like, Amy said she remains hopeful because of his determination and professional experience.
“We know spinal cord injuries are incredibly complex, and we understand that no one can promise what Colin’s recovery will look like,” she said. “We’re hopeful because of who Colin is. He’s always been disciplined, resilient and willing to do the hard work.”
“As a physical therapist, he understands that recovery isn’t about one miraculous moment,” she added. “It’s about showing up day after day and being consistent.”
Amy said Colin has spent his career encouraging patients through difficult moments and helping them continue when they felt like giving up. He is now relying on that same mindset during his own rehabilitation.
Friends of the couple have launched a fundraiser through Lend a Hand Up to help cover the enormous financial costs associated with the injury.
Those expenses are estimated to reach between $500,000 and $1 million and could include surgery, rehabilitation, adaptive equipment, lost income and lifelong medical care.
“We’ve been completely overwhelmed by the generosity we’ve experienced,” Amy said. “Our local communities in Park Rapids and Fargo have shown up for us in ways we’ll never forget.”
She said strangers from across the country have also sent donations, prayers, messages of support and personal stories of recovery.
“It’s been an incredible reminder that kindness still exists and that people truly do rally around one another in life’s hardest moments,” she said.
For Amy, the outpouring has been especially emotional because Colin has always been the person helping others, both through his work in health care and his military service.
“Knowing Colin, he never would have asked for help himself,” she said. “That’s what makes this outpouring of love so emotional for our family.”
“It’s a reflection of the way he’s lived his life serving others,” Amy added. “Now we’re watching people serve him in return.”