Oregon woman launches GoFundMe for brother, who suffered spinal cord injury in diving accident

OREGON, Ill. (WTVO) — A woman in Oregon has launched a GoFundMe to support her brother’s recovery after he became paralyzed by diving headfirst into a pool and hitting the bottom.

According to Mackenzie Avery, her brother, Nathan, dove into a pool on the night of June 17th and struck bottom, breaking his neck and shattering his C5 vertebrae, the fifth bone in the spinal column.

Nathan was rushed to Javon Bea Mercyhealth Riverside hospital in Rockford and was then airlifted to UW Madison.

According to Avery, Nathan underwent a 6 hour surgery during which doctors removed the broken vertebrae and stabilized his neck to take pressure off the spinal cord.

“The doctors came in and tried mobility exercises but he was unable to squeeze his hands, move his fingers and still can’t move any part of his body from his nipples down,” she said.

Avery said Nathan will remain hospitalized until he is stabilized enough to undergo acute physical rehabilitation.

“We are hoping and praying that he will get some movement back, at least in his arms,” she wrote.

The fundraiser has raised nearly $3,000 toward a stated $4,000 goal.