Robert Ballard
Rob earned his wings as a naval helicopter pilot and served in the Middle East, Bahrain, and South Korea. A tragic helicopter accident altered his life forever.
Robert With His Daughter
From Combat Missions to Flight Instruction
Rob started his career as a naval aviator in Milton, Florida. He went on to fly helicopters on multiple deployments to the Middle East.
He spent most of his military career abroad. After his service in the Middle East, he lived in in Bahrain and South Korea with his family for thirteen years.
As the end of his military career neared, Rob knew he wanted to return home. In a full-circle moment, he was stationed again at Milton, Florida where it all began. This time as a Professional Flight Instructor.
He Woke Up In An Ambulance, Unable to Feel His Legs
On August 19, 2021, Rob Ballard was performing flight instructor duties with a student at a Navy Outlying Field in East Milton, Florida.
“The last thing I remember was flying at 600 feet above ground level at one of our outlying fields getting ready to initiate a maneuver.”
He woke up in an ambulance.
“I had a lot of pain in my lower back and no feeling or sensation in my legs.”
Rob had been in a devastating helicopter crash. In addition to paralysis, he suffered a collapsed lung, seven broken ribs, multiple wounds on his legs and feet, a broken forearm, one badly sprained ankle, and one broken ankle.
Just eight months earlier, Rob had been wrapping up a 20-year career in the U.S. Navy—ten of those years spent overseas in the Middle East and South Korea. The crash changed everything. But his quick actions in those final moments saved his student—and himself.
"Nothing Prepares You To Live As A Paraplegic"
Rob was transferred to one of the top spinal cord injury centers in the country where his wife could be with him and learn to be a caregiver.
“Nothing can prepare you for learning how to live as a complete paraplegic," he explained. "Not only was I learning how to live without the use of my legs, but I was learning to live without any function in my bowel or bladder."
For our heroes who pride themselves on being self-sufficient and always in service of others, becoming reliant on caregivers can be a difficult transition.
"Learning how to dress yourself, bathroom activities, grooming, and healing from all the trauma takes a toll.”
Coming Home To Even More Challenges
After six months of surgeries, physical therapy and intensive support, Rob was finally able to return home. But new and difficult challenges awaited him in a house not built to his new needs.
“All our bedrooms and full bathrooms are on the second story, so I sleep in a twin bed in our downstairs living room and take a stair lift to conduct my bathroom activities every day."
This difficult arrangement requires help from the whole family.
"Lindsay, my son, and my daughter all take part in helping me get up and down the stairs and in and out our front door every day.”
"My Goal Is To Be Dad Again"
“Having an adapted, accessible home would allow me to be more independent and take more of the daily responsibilities off Lindsay and the kids."
Their tight-knit family has been through so much already. "My family has made many sacrifices during my career, many moves and deployments, and now dealing with our current situation."
Rob's ambition is quite simple. "My goal is to be Dad again," he explained. "I know there will be limitations, but I need to know my kids can depend on me and we are working to that goal every day."
Let's Build A Custom Home For Rob & His Family
We want to ensure that Rob, his wife, and children have a home where they are safe to thrive.
"We are a tough battle-hardened Navy family with icy sea-salt running through our veins, but we are in a hard transition right now and an adapted home would allow my family to become even closer and give us the ability to thrive with my new condition.”
The Gary Sinise Foundation is proudly building a home for them fully customized to Rob's needs. This home will increase his mobility and independence to help alleviate the strain on the entire household.
You can help by making a donation today.
