Conservative radio talk show host Dennis Prager is severely paralyzed with no movement of his arms and legs (quadriplegia) after a home fall on November 12, 2024, left him with a severe cervical vertebra (C3/C4) spinal cord injury.
He has a tracheostomy and wears a vented collar. The doctors are trying to gradually restore his breathing by weaning him from the complete mechanical ventilator and using a continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) device. Over time, he will be able to speak and hopefully return to teaching and broadcasting.
There is hope for Dennis as the paralysis may be somewhat mitigated because Prager still has a sense of touch in portions of his extremities. And,
For those wishing to pray for Prager’s complete recovery, his full Hebrew name is Shmuel Nechemia ben Hinda.
— Steve
December 17, 2025, UPDATE:
Dennis Prager Reflects One Year After His Injury—and Warns of America’s Moral Crisis | Real Talk
“I remain paralyzed, but the biggest work, in fact, virtually all the work that has been done has been to enable me to breathe better, because the nerves to my diaphragm have been severely injured.”
October 2, 2025, UPDATE:
Dennis Prager’s First Public Appearance Since Paralysis: A Message of Strength and Faith
September 10, 2025, UPDATE:
According to Mark Levin, Dennis Prager had just gotten out of the shower, fell, and hit the back of his head on the bathtub.
What we know: The injury occurred at the C3–C4 vertebrae level, which impacted his diaphragm, leading to significant breathing difficulties and paralysis from the shoulders down. Due to two previous back operations, including a spinal fusion, at 6’4,” Prager’s back was stiffer than normal and may have contributed to the severity of his injury. His injury is said to be "incomplete," meaning his spinal cord was not severed and there is some sensation or mobility below the site of the injury — thus giving hope for some degree of future recovery.
July 17, 2025, UPDATE:
To nobody’s surprise, Dennis is on a long and hard road to recovery, experiencing both good and not-so-good days.
According to his son, David Prager, his breathing remains inconsistent, and he still requires a tracheostomy collar and periodic ventilator support.
He is now able to sit in a chair regularly and even engage in some floor physical therapy. Bedsores were a serious concern earlier, but they are now stable and improving, thanks to high-quality wound care at his current facility.
The risk of infections (like sepsis from bedsores or lung secretions) remains and requires ongoing monitoring. He remains mentally sharp and engaged, though physical recovery will be a long-term process.
"Sometimes people expect something revolutionary in an update, something completely different in every update. But we’re honest with you. You know, it’s a few steps ahead. It’s a few steps back. We don’t always have massive, big updates. We’re as transparent as it is."
May 22, 2025, UPDATE:
According to son, David Prager, "I think both physically and mentally, he’s doing really well. He spent a significant amount of time, the max amount of time that this facility allowed him to, off the ventilator last week, which was just so great. Spoke very clearly. Obviously, there’s still room to go, but it gave us just a certain level of appreciation for him being there, as well as that he still can improve significantly despite the setbacks that he had."
"I think he’s fully aware of what’s happening and understanding that a difficult moment or a difficult day or a few days is part of the healing process. It’s not a linear path. And I know we’ve been saying that sounds very cliché, but in his case, with his level of injury, with his age, it really isn’t linear."
May 2, 2025, UPDATE:
According to Alan Estrin, co-founder of PragerU, Dennis Prager, after suffering a serious setback with pneumonia which required hospitalization, "rather than returning home, he is now moved to a new hospital, but this is a hospital that is world famous and specifically designed to deal with the issues that Dennis has to deal with." The treatment is said to be aggressive, and Prager was transferred to a wheelchair. Unfortunately, since Dennis is a new patient at this facility, we need to wait for another progress report.
March 7, 2025 UPDATE:
No real insight into his physical condition. It appears his breathing is stronger, and he is recovering the stamina to speak for more extended periods of time. For those who want to listen to "PragerU CEO Marissa Streit and Chief Development Officer David Prager share the latest update on Dennis’s continuing recovery from his spinal cord injury—including a special recorded message to the PragerU community from Dennis himself!" it can be found here.
February 15, 2005 UPDATE:
It appears Dennis is still a quadriplegic with no movement beyond his shoulders. He is receiving physical therapy. His injury was complicated by two previous back operations that included a spinal fusion and the fact that he is 6’4".
His diaphragm (breathing) is getting stronger, and he can talk more freely and eat and drink now.
It will take at least six months to assess his condition further. According to his family, "It’s an incomplete injury, meaning the spinal cord wasn’t severed, meaning that there’s a lot of chance for further recovery."
He is aware of his present limitations and is looking for ways to overcome some of his obstacles so he can return to the air and finish his current book. Continue those prayers!
February 3, 2025 UPDATE:
It appears Dennis is out of the ICU and has been moved to a recovery facility. Like anyone with a life-altering injury, he has his good days and not-so-good days. It also appears he is continuing to progress in diaphragm strength and his ability to speak.
