How a Traumatic Brain Injury Led Pro Athletes Brandon Scheid and Sensi Graves to Find Gratitude and New Perspectives on Life

Apr 24

Written By Angie

We talk about...

Managing risk in this subset of paragliding, even when you know people who’ve died doing it
Sensi’s perspective of her husband’s speed flying passion
How Brandon got “addicted” to a flow state in a high-risk situation (like jumping off mountains to fly down)
How Brandon had monitored conditions and assessed a plan for flying that day
Analyzing the accident as a pro athlete: What happened when Brandon and his wing hit the cliff and how his decision-making may have saved his life
Fracturing his pelvis and back after falling at 60mph and crashing into a cliff
Two brain injuries: one on the right frontal temporal lobe (leading to behavioral issues, judgment, criticism, anger, and lack of compassion, especially towards Sensi)
Another injury on the lizard brain’s pons: 70% of people die from that injury

Feeling “Why me, why this, why now?”
Being in Canada when she got the call that her husband was getting life-flighted to the hospital
Getting the phone call that Brandon might not survive
Being in the hospital with Brandon after an induced coma and a brain injury
The more you experience the hard parts of life, the more you can experience the great parts

Not remembering anything between the crash and days post-coma
How the hospital staff had to keep restraints on Brandon, and he surprised nurses by breaking his catheter
Losing 40 pounds in 2.5 weeks
How his post-accident brain feels like being on MDMA constantly and experiencing mania
Emotions are coming back but Brandon can still access manic states

How hitting the ground was the second most impactful moment of his life (after learning to kite)
Replacing speed flying with playing piano, the concertina, sewing, and flying “first person view” drones
Flying FPV drones as a direct replacement for speed flying: getting adrenaline rushes and feeling like he’s flying
“The universe isn’t happening to us, it’s happening for us.”

Brandon was in the rehab facility when Sensi took a test
Sensi’s nervousness about experiencing trauma while pregnant
Brandon’s positive reaction to finding out about the pregnancy, which was different than his attitude around become a father pre-accident
How Sensi feels like this baby is meant to be
Being almost 6 months pregnant at recording and feelings around the journey
Feeling incredibly lucky to be pregnant in a world where people have intense challenges
How Brandon thinks he’ll approach managing risk in sports with a child

The importance of living aligned with values, and how Sensi leans on her values to get through seasons of life
What Brandon and Sensi would tell people who are afraid of experiencing a life-changing injury or illness
How to support loved ones going through a life-changing injury or illness
Gratitude and perspective practices to move through challenging times
Learning to let yourself be held and supported by other people
Trusting that despite all the challenges and hard work, everything is going to be okay

Thank you to The Ruins, the best wedding venue in Oregon, for supporting the show.

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