TWIN FALLS, Idaho (KMVT/KSVT/Gray News) — A man jumped on a trampoline last summer with his son. In the blink of an eye, he was paralyzed.

“I remember the accident clearly, and I remember waking up from surgery, unable to speak or move,” Preston Hills said.

On Father’s Day, Hills and his family visited a friend’s house for a barbecue. That’s when he and his son decided to do some tricks on the backyard trampoline, and within minutes, the unthinkable happened.

“I ended up landing off the trampoline on my neck, causing a cervical fracture that bent my spinal cord and left me paralyzed from the neck down,” Hill said.

Hills said he was taken to an Idaho Falls hospital, where he was in intensive care for three weeks. After that, he went to several rehab centers in Denver and Nebraska.

Now he’s finally back in Twin Falls, where the community came together to throw a party for the Hills at The Barber Shop in Gehrig Dale.

“Our customers are family – not just a customer, and when we found out Preston was hurt, we just wanted to do something to help him,” Stan Sorenson said.

Stan Sorenson is the owner of the barbershop. He says Hills has been a client of his for years. Sorenson said she threw the party to help raise funds for Hill’s medical needs, which are not covered by insurance.

“Our ultimate goal is to give Preston hope and let him know he has support around him,” Sorenson said.

During the party, Hills stood up to walk the 0-K race, using a walking platform to show off his progress. His ex-wife Francesca Hills crossed the finish line with him.

“It doesn’t surprise me that all these people came forward for him. He’s a great guy and it’s been absolutely amazing to be able to be a part of watching his progress,” said Francesca Hills.

“It felt great to cross the finish line and there will be many more to come,” said Preston Hills.

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