Andrew Hale has been tested his entire life.
At the age of 11, Hale was in a horrific accident and suffered life-threatening injuries after being hit by a car. He was even pronounced dead at one point but came back to life thanks to the tireless work of doctors and medical technicians, and as Hale has said in the past when discussed the life-altering event, a regular miracle.
Hale suffered major complications from the wreck. His foot became severely infected numerous times in his life and doctors eventually recommended amputation. Weeks after the procedure, Hale was healthy enough to get medical clearance and resumed all his passions — specifically snowboarding. Hale made the decision to move out west to pursue a career in snowboarding. Two years later, he found himself defying the odds and became one of the top Paralympic snowboarders in the United States. As a member of Adaptive Action Sports (AAS), the premiere Paralympic snowboard training team, Hale and his teammates were training to compete in the 2018 games in Korea.
AAS is a nonprofit founded by Daniel Gale and Amy Purdy. Purdy is a double leg amputee and a former snowboarding champion. AAS trains elite level professional athletes which include wounded veterans and youth with physical disabilities. The AAS also provides youth services and outreach. When he wasn’t training, Hale spent countless hours on mountains teaching courses and giving clinics to young kids with amputations. Hale inspired kids to never let their disability hinder them either on the slopes or in life.
Last week, life sent Andrew Hale yet another test. During training, another athlete lost his edge and fell. Hale was closing in at a high speed and was unable to avoid a collision. The pair collided and the impact sent Hale cartwheeling off the course and into a bank of trees. He fractured his skull and suffered severe head trauma. His injuries also include crushed vertebrae, a torn aorta and he’s currently in critical condition in a Denver hospital. Because it’s in his DNA, Hale is fighting for his life. He’s currently in a coma but doctors are amazed at how hard he’s pushing to break through.
Hale has a long fight ahead and that fight will include massive medical bills. Friends of Hale’s, along with the AAS, have set up a GoFundMe to raise money to offset some of those costs. In the first 48 hours, the page raised over $6K for Hale towards a goal of $10K.
In his teens, Hale got a tattoo to serve as a reminder of surviving the car accident. The tattoo reads “Miracles Happen.” Maybe this time while Hale is yet again fighting to survive, complete strangers can ensure that miracle really does happen.
To donate to Andrew Hale’s GoFundMe page, click here.