Skilled skier Jamie MoCrazy considered her complete id as being based mostly round that of knowledgeable athlete. She was on the high of her recreation, having gained gold within the junior championships, and representing the USA in freestyle snowboarding at first stopped in 2015.

Tragically, a severe fall on the slopes left her with a traumatic mind harm at age 22 and her life was turned utterly the other way up. Fortunately, with the assist of her loving mother (Grace) and sister (Jeanee), and with assist from the medical neighborhood, Jamie not solely survived, however went on to make an unbelievable restoration.

Whereas not destined to compete, she as soon as once more placed on the skis to show that the place there’s a will, there’s a method. Lately, a documentary was launched detailing her accident, restoration, and need to get higher. The movie follows her as she battles despair and finds hope within the face of adversity.

M&F sat down with this inspirational determine to search out out what she’s realized alongside the best way, and the way Jamie MoCrazy’s journey helps others.

Why did you wish to create the quick documentary, “#MoCrazyStrong”?

I wished to point out a dynamic story that modifications the narrative for girls and household involvement round TBI [traumatic brain injury] restoration. I waited by my restoration journey to point out the arc of climbing another peak, and rebuilding an id after trauma. I needed to wait till I returned to Whistler Ski Resort to marry the love of my life, atop the very mountain that nearly took my life!

Do you assume that a whole lot of viewers might be reassured that it’s regular to really feel depressed even after a perceived “restoration”?

It’s OK to really feel depressed and overwhelmed after encountering a trauma, simply don’t keep caught on the backside. After a metaphorical avalanche slides you down the mountain of life, you may at all times climb another peak! Your capabilities might have completely modified, however you may at all times construct a life you like.

You needed to come to phrases with shedding the highs you felt by aggressive snowboarding. To place that into context, what it’s prefer to flip by the air and make a profitable 90-feet leap?

Flipping by the air provides a second of elation that offers objective to all of the hours of labor that goes into studying that excellent trick.

When the crash occurred, did it put you off ever snowboarding once more?

No, the precise reverse occurred. I used to be in a coma for 10 days. Then, I had severe amnesia for six weeks after waking from the coma. Throughout the amnesia, I knew I used to be knowledgeable skier and wished to return to skilled snowboarding. Once I determined I used to be going to return I couldn’t even stroll up a flight of stairs independently.

The primary winter, I mentally attributed my TBI with different ski accidents like damaged bones or torn ligaments. I used to be planning on taking that winter off competing after which I’d return to the world tour, however I knew I needed to relearn to ski and all my tips. In the long run, I made a decision I didn’t wish to threat demise, so I made a decision to not return to competitors and needed to construct a brand new id for myself as a TBI advocate.

How did you deal with that vital choice within the early going?

Once I started to appreciate that my earlier id as knowledgeable skier had been ripped away, I started to endure main dips in my happiness. Sooner or later, whereas nonetheless dwelling at my mother’s home in Park Metropolis, UT, I bear in mind mendacity in mattress and having the considered ‘who would care if I obtained up?’ That first winter, my mother advised me that an organization I used to be a grant recipient from; Excessive Fives Basis had already paid for me to go to psychological remedy. I didn’t assume I wanted remedy. I felt like I used to be presupposed to be pleased as a result of I used to be alive, however then I might get triggered to cry 3-5 instances every day. Going to remedy was top-of-the-line issues I’ve ever performed and I return to remedy every time I would like exterior assist, balancing the traumas I expertise.

How did you go about filling the additional time that you just now had post-skiing?

I began attending college one 12 months out of my TBI. It was so useful for me to have a objective, set targets, and be capable to really feel like I had construction. I might advocate that everybody recovering from a life altering trauma ought to discover one thing to place optimistic power into with a gaggle. It may very well be music classes, becoming a member of a guide membership… I not too long ago met a TBI survivor who began the Montana Puzzle Membership as a approach to deliver survivors collectively!

How did you regain your mobility?

There may be a whole lot of bodily work that went into regaining my mobility. I understood the idea of pushing past your capabilities, having competed in sports activities my complete life. For instance, after I was leaving the hospital, I did yoga with my mother three days per week. I had very unhealthy stability on the time, so it was very rudimentary yoga. Lots of the yoga was sitting and transferring my fingers, or mendacity on the ground to maneuver my legs. My mother additionally understood, as I used to be rewiring my mind, that it is very important relearn to decelerate my mind with Shavasana (a calming facet of yoga). These little steps of health are important to rebuilding your life. Most individuals can do some bodily exercise even when they assume they will’t. You simply have to be inventive and break it right down to what you at the moment can accomplish.

How important was it have a assist group like your loved ones round you?

It is extremely vital to have a assist group when recovering from a severe accident. Whereas household was crucial to me due to my mother’s schooling on mind improvement, I recognize that not everybody has a supportive household. There’s a huge distinction from being a coddling household to being a supportive household, too. Very often, a household thinks that they’re being supportive when actually they’re limiting the TBI survivor’s capability to return to being impartial. There was a time after I couldn’t maintain a glass with out spilling the liquid. It might have been very straightforward for my mother to imagine she was being supportive by forcing me to carry the glass in my sturdy hand. As a substitute, she taped down my sturdy hand and compelled me to carry water within the cup with my weak hand. That allowed my mind to rebuild the pathways and synaptic connections, which allowed me to regain full mobility.

How energetic are you now?

I would like train to remain sane! I like actions, like mountaineering and snowboarding, Pilates, yoga and barre class. I attempt to do at the very least a brief stroll or some stretching daily, and I would like a category, or lengthy train exercise at the very least 3 days every week. Final week, I used to be at a movie competition, dwelling for 4 days after which went to a different movie competition. Earlier than I even got here dwelling I signed up for 3 yoga and firming courses to reset me.

What’s your relationship with snowboarding like now?

I returned to snowboarding in December in 2015, 9 months after my TBI. Once I returned I used to be very excited and pleased! It didn’t faze me that I needed to relearn to ski and I used to be again on the bunny slope. As an athlete, you’re used to taking it mellow after a torn ACL. What did have an effect on me emotionally was after I got here to the conclusion that I used to be not returning to competing. I needed to understanding I might by no means once more have that feeling of hovering by the air, weightless, and free feeling.

For individuals who might really feel like a serious accident means they have to quit what they love. What would you say to them?

Once more; you may climb another peak. Normalize the struggles and despair. It’s okay to really feel unhealthy, overwhelmed, and confused about why this occurred to you. However don’t keep there. Get the show you how to want, like a therapist, bodily coach, contact your states TBI affiliation or name Mind Damage Affiliation of America for info 1-800-444-6443. Science has developed into the idea which you could get well from a traumatic mind harm, so now we have to talk and educate that to the coverage makers, trauma facilities, and common public. These facets are all a part of our marketing campaign #MoCrazyStrong.

How can the “Muscle & Health” viewers watch #MoCrazyStrong?

For 2023 we’re doing a movie competition run throughout North America. We’re additionally delivering personal screenings for individuals who have survived a Traumatic Mind Damage, household caregivers, therapists and assist workers, medical college college students and educators. If you want to host a screening please contact us by the web site.