Yates Colby has a motto: "If you can't find humor in farming, you're just not looking hard enough."
For Yates, farming is her passion, and she has 20 acres dedicated to animals roaming around the property – all with hilarious names, like her pigs Jodi Foster, Justin Bateman, Gene Wilder, Penguin, Whoopi Goldberg, Cary Grant, and Robin Wright.
It’s a lot to take care of and requires being physically active from dawn to dusk. When an unexpected work injury altered her way of living, Colby met the challenge head on.
In October of 2023, Yates tore three of her four rotator cuff tendons while working on electrical equipment at Grand Coulee Dam. She underwent surgery in March of 2024 at Providence Holy Family Hospital, where Dr. Turner performed a reverse total shoulder arthroplasty. This procedure is essentially a shoulder replacement but involves switching the positions of the ball and socket, thereby altering the mechanics of the shoulder to ensure it remains functional.
"Successful surgical outcomes often hinge on a trio of key factors: a highly motivated patient, a skilled therapist to implement an effective rehabilitation program, and a talented surgeon to perform the procedure," explained Dr. Turner. "Yates had all three."
Six weeks after surgery, Yates embarked on an extensive rehabilitation journey where she integrated maneuvers for daily farm tasks , such as climbing onto her tractor, carrying 50-pound feed bags to sweeping.
“She always had such a great attitude, sense of humor, you know, just everything. She was very fun to work with,” said Diane Tapp, senior physical therapist at St. Luke’s Rehabiliation Medical Center. “We got creative with how we could strengthen her to be able maintain her active lifestyle.”
Throughout this journey, Yates maintained her light-hearted spirit. "The whole team really worked with me," she says. "They listened to me. Every person was amazing." Her drive to overcome adversity was fueled by a desire to return to the independent life she cherished.
By December 2024, Yates had completed her physical therapy, and by March 2025, she was cleared for full duty—able to return to her job at the dam with renewed strength. But it’s the farm, with its jovial atmosphere, that stands as a testament to Yates Colby's humor, resilience, and unwavering spirit. Here, amidst the laughter and love shared with her animals, Yates truly does her life and does it well.
The medical team at Providence not only catered to Yates' physical needs but also treated her as the whole person she is, ensuring her recovery journey was personalized and supportive, fostering both her physical and emotional well-being.
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