Strengthening the Bonds of Friendship at Craig Hospital

On November 16, 2025, Ryan Zimmerman, a freshman at the University of Minnesota, and two close friends were exploring a Mississippi River overlook when Ryan slipped and fell.

“It was really scary,” recalls 19-year-old Ethan Francois, a friend of Ryan’s since middle school and his college roommate. “We raced down the path to the bottom of the overlook and found Ryan. Then, we quickly called 911 and waited for first responders to reach us by boat.”

Fast-forward four months, and Ryan and Ethan are spending time together again—but this time at Craig Hospital as part of the Flying with Friends program.

“The progress that Ryan has made since getting to Craig in early January has been incredible,” Jen, Ryan’s mother, explains. “While he sustained brain injuries and numerous fractures in the accident, Ryan has progressed from being mostly nonverbal to full speaking, from tube feeding to independently eating full meals, and from using a wheelchair to walking with just a gait belt.”

She adds, “Spending a few days with Ethan really boosted Ryan’s mood and made him so happy. Flying with Friends is such a special program. We were grateful that Ryan and Ethan were able to participate in it together.”

Empowering Adolescents

Established in 2022, the donor-supported initiative includes flights, lodging, transportation, meals, activities and outings for the friends of adolescent patients.

“The goal of Flying with Friends is to empower adolescents with spinal cord and brain injuries by giving them the support they need to thrive,” Kelsey Smith, a recreational therapist at Craig, explains. “This includes time with close friends.”

She adds, “Throughout the visit, the patient’s friend is provided with comprehensive training, which fosters independence and community integration, as well as ensuring that patients can transition home with support and confidence.”

Ethan’s four-day visit included an afternoon of miniature golf, as well as board games, Chick-fil-A, pizza, Taco Bell, and tickets to a professional hockey game, donated to the family via personal connections.

In addition, Ethan spent two days with Ryan while he participated in various therapies, including physical, occupational and speech therapy, as well as time spent participating in a high-intensity walking research study.

“My physical therapist taught Ethan how to put on my gait belt, and we practiced walking outside with the belt,” Ryan says. “By the end of the session, he felt comfortable helping me use it while we played mini golf. It was great to spend time together, just like we used to back home before my accident.”

For Ethan, the experience was extremely uplifting: “It was cool to see how much Ryan has improved. I got to see what he does every day and how much his therapies are helping him recover.”

He adds, “While it has been difficult being back at college without Ryan, my family has been very supportive and, together with therapy, have helped me get through the trauma of Ryan’s accident. Spending a few days with him in Colorado was awesome and made me excited to have him back home in Minnesota.”

To learn more or donate to help Craig patients like Ryan, please visit craighospital.org/foundation/donate.