RESILIENT CADET:

John Balke

By Russell Slater

When Cadet Senior Master Sergeant John Balke, of the Renton Composite Squadron, Washington State Wing, suffered a cerebral hemorrhage in February, he and his parents didn’t know what to expect. They faced frightening uncertainty and rose to meet the daily challenges in the weeks and months ahead. John’s can-do attitude, coupled with his determination to rejoin his fellow cadets, makes him a prime example of courage overcoming calamity.

WILL MY SON LIVE?

“I was at work when I heard that John needed medical attention, and I was actually at the hospital before he was,” recalls John’s father, Stewart Balke. “Seeing him in the ER unconscious on the bed with all the medical staff working on him was rather difficult. He was not able to breathe on his own.”

The cerebral hemorrhage occurred near John’s cerebellum, the part of the brain responsible for automatic functions like breathing. The hemorrhage would require major brain surgery in order to save his life. “As I was watching him get his first, of many, CT scans, and then talking to the neurosurgeon, I was thinking, ‘will my son live? If so, in what capacity?’ After four hours of brain surgery and two more hours of waiting, my wife Cheryl and I got to see him for the first time in the intensive care unit. He was alive, and breathing on his own.”

Although the hemorrhage came as a terrible surprise to his parents, John wasn’t even aware of what had occurred until after the fact. “I did not know about the hemorrhage until after it happened,” Balke said. “It sunk in slowly, and didn’t come as one big shock.”

BACK AT IT AGAIN
After more than a month of recovery at the Seattle Children’s Hospital, (then) Cadet Airman 1st Class Balke was able to return home this past March. Eager to jump back into things, he returned to his CAP family almost immediately.

“John was released from the hospital on a Friday after four and a half weeks,” his father said. “On Monday he was back at CAP for his first meeting. As he rolled in on his wheelchair all the senior members and cadets present applauded him.”

Stewart credits his son’s membership in CAP with helping to bounce back from such a life-changing event. “CAP is the one thing that John can count on doing every week that he did before the incident. It has also taught him that working hard at a difficult task is what builds character. CAP has been a big part of his mental recovery, as well as a motivator to get physically better so he can participate in an even greater role.”

ON THE MEND

Following his surgery, Balke was forced to rely on a feeding tube in order to get the nutrition his healing body needed. Nearly four months after the procedure, he made a welcomed discovery.

“John discovered on June 22nd, the day before his 15th birthday, that he
could swallow some foods,” his father said. “One week later he was tested at the hospital and he was cleared to take food orally, but was still requiring liquids to be given through his tube. Then on August 3 he was cleared to swallow liquids orally. Since then, he has been tube free.”

“I am feeling much better as it has been seven months since the incident,” said Balke. “Many prayers have been answered.

PRESS ON

Cadet Senior Master Sergeant John Balke’s inspiring story is one of resilience and unbreakable will. A young man supported by his family and Civil Air Patrol comrades found the strength within himself to improvise solutions, adapt to a new, unexpected situation, and overcome the obstacles in his path. The Washington State native is a natural-born leader, with ambitions to one day become a United States Marine. Until then, he has found a welcoming home within CAP.

“I know that CAP is good for John,” admits Stewart. “It has given him many opportunities in the year that he has been a cadet. All the staff and senior members are great and supportive.”

Balke claims the opportunity to help others in need is his favorite part about wearing the CAP uniform. To other young people who are faced with similar problems, Balke says, “Press on. Although you might feel like you just want to quit, don’t give up. You will overcome it.”