We're All Insane - Hung From a Power Line By My Leg for an Hour

Episode Date: June 7, 2026

After surviving an accident that should have killed her, Kennedy woke up to a completely different life. In this episode, she shares the reality of losing a leg, recovering from severe injuries, living with a disability, and learning to find confidence, purpose, and joy after experiencing unimaginable trauma. Topics Discussed: → What happened the day Kennedy's life changed forever? → How did she survive being thrown into power lines? → What is life like after losing a limb? → How do you rebuild confidence after a traumatic accident? → What helped Kennedy find purpose after tragedy? Sponsored By: → Biologica | Head to https://biologica.com/INSANE to get started and get up to 32% off your first subscription order today! Take their Quick Hormonal Life Stage Quiz to find the formula that’s right for you. → AirDoctor | Head to https://AirDoctorPro.com and use promo code INSANE to get $250 off select AirDoctor air purifiers, including the 3500, 4000, and 5500 models. Plus, you’ll receive a free 3 year warranty, an $84 value, and AirDoctor’s 30-day money back guarantee. On This Episode We Cover: → 00:00:00 - Introduction → 00:02:18 - What happened the day of Kennedy's accident? → 00:05:46 - How was she thrown into power lines? → 00:08:53 - What injuries did she sustain? → 00:12:14 - How did first responders save her life? → 00:15:38 - What does she remember from the hospital? → 00:19:07 - How did she learn she lost her leg? → 00:22:31 - What was the hardest part of recovery? → 00:25:42 - How did she adjust to life with one leg? → 00:29:08 - What was it like learning to walk again? → 00:33:12 - How did she cope with losing her independence? → 00:37:42 - What was it like returning home after the accident? → 00:41:18 - How did strangers react to her disability? → 00:44:47 - How did she rebuild her confidence? → 00:48:34 - What challenges came with chronic nerve pain? → 00:52:06 - How did social media become part of her healing journey? → 00:56:22 - Why did she begin sharing her story publicly? → 01:00:41 - What has speaking at schools taught her? → 01:04:18 - How does social media affect self-worth and comparison? → 01:08:27 - How did the accident change her perspective on life? → 01:13:54 - How did she learn to accept herself after trauma? → 01:17:42 - What is life like with a prosthetic leg? → 01:20:45 - How did surgeons restore movement in her arm? → 01:24:15 - How did her body heal in ways doctors couldn't explain? → 01:26:18 - What is it like having your story recognized by strangers? → 01:27:18 - Why does she continue sharing her story? → 01:29:24 - What message does she hope people take away from her experience? Show links: → https://youtu.be/Ucy_aRFwr8A?si=1QHznWQpc6_VMkDU Check Out Kennedy: → https://linktr.ee/kickitkenny?utm_source=ig&utm_medium=social&utm_content=link_in_bio More We Are All Insane:  → OFFICIAL MERCH NOW AVAILABLE - code INSANE10 gets you 10% off for a limited time→ Join We’re All Insane Mailing List for EXCLUSIVE Content + Discounts  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

My name is Kennedy Bingham, and I was involved in a car accident where I was ejected out of the vehicle and hanging in a power line, 30 pitting there upside down for almost an hour, if not an hour, fully conscious. That was literally going to be my question. Were you conscious the whole time? The whole time, yeah. And my memory is like not all the way there technically. I can't remember the full hour of like what exactly will happen. But like, I've spoke with like the EMTs that were there and they were like, yeah, you were communicative the entire time. eyes open, everything, like fully there. Crazy. Crazy. Oh my gosh. Okay, so run me throw it. Okay, so a little bit before my accident, like this is the part that I guess people can relate to a little bit more, but I was 16 years old when it happened. And so at this point, I lived in a really small town and small towns can be really hard, just like people love to talk. They love to make

gossip and rumors and all this stuff. And at this point, I was like trying to figure out who I was, that's like typical as a 16 year old girl. You're trying to figure out who your friends are and kind of what you want. And at this point, I did feel like pretty lost and lonely because also my dad had just been diagnosed with cancer at this point. And so I was really struggling with that because I felt like me and my dad were always very close. And my friends that I had also started making pretty poor choices, unfortunately. And I was like, oh, maybe I should just go and who cares? Like, because at this point me and my parents also didn't like get along super well. Just I was very stubborn. It's a hard age. I feel like at that age we don't care about, I feel like

anything. And we're just, our mind is like not where it is in like 10 years from then. Yeah. And so that's definitely what was happening. And so I was just like, I don't really care. But luckily, I still had enough self-respect from my parents. I was like, okay, like I'll keep it in rains. And I still was a good kid. But I was also struggling with depression at this point. I had thoughts of like suicide very often, just like, oh, it would be so much easier. I had an eating disorder, so I'd go all day, every day off of energy drinks, gum, and just maybe one meal a day, just because I don't know. I just was like in a really, really hard mental spot.

So that's what's, I think so empowering about my story is like then I go through something so horrific and then how I came out at the end. So I just like really put my time into my friends and distance myself from my family a lot. And that's just like where my focus was. And I think that's kind of what like also probably got me there just with the poor decisions. And there's always a quote. I look back on and it says the pain you've been feeling can't compare to the joy that's coming. Because I wish at that point in my life I could go back and tell myself that.

And I would probably be like, what do you mean? There's no way. Right. But it's true. And so then to get to the accident, it happened on May 22nd of 2021. So the five year anniversary is literally coming up so soon. It's crazy. It's even been five years.

It feels like forever ago. But at the same time, like oh, my God. Still five years isn't that long. No, no. And I actually, we have like really good friends, been friends for probably a year, if not longer. And he had like no idea, it had been five years. And he was like, I thought that was like, I'm not going to lie, like eight years ago or something. And I was like, are you okay?

Like I'm, and I was like, yeah, I'm good. He was like, that's just like so short and like where you're at. And I was like, yeah, it's just crazy. Like I just have been cruising ever since trying to accomplish things. But I definitely should have lost my life that day, not just my leg, because obviously I have a prosthetic now and my arms paralyzed. You can see all the scarring on it. It was torn off in the accent, just hanging on by the skin on my back. So like very tremendous injuries at this point. I thought I was invincible. Like I most kids think that way, though. Like in high school, I remember the speakers would come in and be like, oh, this is my story. And I would always be like, oh, sex for you. Like not, I wouldn't say that. But I would be like, oh, I know what you mean. I was, it's funny you bring that up because I just filmed an episode where she was talking about something different, not like accidents, but I was saying, you know, when these speakers come in and we're in high school, we don't think twice. It's almost a burden for us to go to these assemblies and hear it. No one's actually listening. Yeah. And it sucks. It's like there, I wish there was a way to make kids actually listen and understand. But at that age, I figured it out though. Like I have because I used to be that kid. Yeah. And so like I used to go to the assemblies and be like, this is so dumb. I this never happened. And I made. Right. But then like I had that knowledge of like, I know what it feels like to think that way. How can I impact these kids? So now when I go to high schools, I've had, I went to Canada and I spoke at this high school and like teachers were like, we wanted you to come out here. We're so sorry because our kids are jerks. Like they are the worst kids you'll probably encounter ever. Like they're disrespectful. They're rude. And I was like really. And they were like, yeah. So like, just do your best. If it doesn't hit, it doesn't hit. That's fine. Like whatever. And I spoke and I was like, oh, I got it like don't even worry and these kids like few boys and they came and sat in the front row

and they were like laughing at me at first and like making like not just like you're not going to do anything yeah right like not didn't care yeah they were crying by the end of my speech like ball and they came up to me and they were like we cannot believe like and they were like you don't realize what you did for us and like that has happened at almost every high school I love that it's so important and I think to your age makes a big difference I think that's a huge thing because like most time it's like 30-year-olds or like 40 and it's like that's great. It's not relatable. Yeah. And like this happened. I mean, when I was at 16, so I hope that like can still carry the effect no matter how long I do it. But like I think right now it just hits because it's like, wow, she's young too. Like she's

orange because I'm only 21. So she's still very young. But yeah, to get into the stuff of the accident, it was a Saturday. My mom had actually was headed to Utah to go help some family members with some yard work. And she'd asked me if I would go with her. I was working at a little cafe at the time. And I was like, oh, I can't. I made responsibilities for my shift. And so no. And she had a really sickening feeling like, I needed to go with her. But at this point, we didn't get along super well. And so she's like, I'm not going to fight it. And so I stayed. And she said, she ended up calling me after my shift. I was like, okay, like, after you get home from work, I need you to like stay home with your dad because he just got in radiation and wasn't feeling too hot. And so I was like, yeah,

sure, whatever. Then my friends came over because that's just how it was. And they were like, hey, we should go do something. And I was having a hard day. And so I went and checked to my dad. I was like, hey, are you good? If I just go for a little bit, I probably won't be gone long. And he was like, yeah, I'm good. And he was just watching a movie or something. And so I'm like, whatever. We won't be going too long. So we went in town, kind of got food. And then down by my house, it's like, I think a four mile drive. It's straight shot and just a few stop signs. You can go to the base of the mountain and watch the sunsets. And just look over the whole town. It's really pretty. And so we were up there just hanging out.

And my friend, his mom in the back seat, had called because I was with two friends. And she was like, you need to come home. And we were like, it's nine o'clock on a Saturday night. Like this is so odd. And she's like, yeah, you just need to come. So we're like, okay, well, can we at least like go move it to your house? And she was like, yeah, sure. So we needed to go back to my house to pick up his car.

And in that process, I hate this part of the story because it's just like sucky, but it's the reality of like 16 and one year emotions. and like it's embarrassing, but like I also know this was supposed to happen for reasons. So if this is like how it was supposed to happen, I guess like that's the way it is. But I had a boyfriend at the time. We'd broken up like two days before crying because I think my friend had like turned and showed me like a story or something of him with another girl or something. It's so stupid.

And like just, but whatever, it was supposed to happen. And I started crying and we live in very, very rural area where the roads are very narrow. And there's no lines on that. and they just kind of like go off into like a ditch. Started go off the left side of the road, overcorrected too far and went off the right and it kind of yanked me in. And from what I think the cops said there was like also like a little jump. And so you were the one driving the car.

Yeah. Okay. So she showed you the story while you were driving. Yeah, just quick. Gotcha. Okay. She had no like it wasn't like, oh look at this forever. It was just like very fast and then like caught my emotions.

Yeah. We were not thinking. And so then, yeah, we caught air. and the car just hit like the power line, the left side of the vehicle. And those roads back there are 50, 55 miles an hour. We were going 58. And I don't actually remember, like, my memory cuts off like a mile before the accident. Like I can't remember anything.

Like the actual? No, nothing. Still to this day, this is just like things that like the police have put together in toll. And so that flipped us sideways, we started flipping and rolling. And every time that that car would hit the ground, it was always on my side. And being the driver, that's why my left side I think is totally destroyed. Like even my ear got like ripped off, like the yellow part. Like it just super weird, but my ride's completely fine.

And so I think at one of those points when it was flipping in the air, I got rejected. All of us three kids were rejected. I think probably all out of the door they thought out of the sunroof, which I don't. Like we would have made it out the sunroof without getting scratch on my good side at least. And so I wasn't on the ground like the rest of my friends. I got thrown out and was hanging in a power line. The picture was crazy. Like, you can zoom in and you'll see, like, my leg hanging in front of my face.

I've seen the picture. And you know what I was going to ask you? Like, because you know with the Internet nowadays, you never know what's real. And I was like, I have to ask her, like, if this is the actual photo. Yeah. And it's crazy that this happened before, like, AI came out because, like, no one would believe me if this came out in the past two years. Like, everyone would be like, this is, and even people did.

Like, this happened in 2021. on like chatGB, AI images. Literally, yeah. That's so hard. I was like, I have to ask her. Like, is it, yeah. And like, I had a video that got almost 60 million views, if not 60. Like, it's so close to that.

And I just got called a liar, like, horrendous things because like people thought I was kidding. And I was like, you can like totally believe what you want, but like, I don't know how I'd make this up. And like, I have proof. Like, I have a video. I've never posted it. Look at me as well, please. Like, then why I want to lie?

People would be like, oh, your prosthetic changes sides. And I was like, the camera, front and back camera, like, it reversed, like, changes. Yeah. But they would like be like, people are horrible. And they're like, yeah, you wrap that prosthetic leg. And I was like, yes, I wrap my ankle the size of a quarter. Like me. Literally.

Thank you. I don't know. Super weird. But yeah, so grateful that this all happened before that because like, yeah. There's no way I would be able to like have the platform I do now because I would be called a liar. And it would be really hard after going through something. So horrendous.

So this might have. It sounds really hard to believe, but believe it or not, there is a version of you that sleeps through the night, that thinks clearly is awake, energized, alive, and that might seem far away right now. And trust me, I get it, because there was a time that that was very much me. And that's where I was when I found Biologica. Biologica is a daily drinkable supplement that goes way beyond any multivitamin. I feel like it can be really annoying and frustrating to have to take a bunch of different supplements and pills every day. It's just overwhelming. Nobody wants to do it. And this actually combines vitamins, vitamins, minerals, probiotics, electrolytes, and clinically research botanicals all in one drink. Something that really stuck out to me about this product is that they are not a one-size-fits-all by any means. They have three different formulas based on whatever hormonal life stage you're at. So they have the primary essentials, midlife essentials, and then post-menopause essentials,

so that you're actually supporting where your body is at right now in the moment. I personally have been using the primary essentials and some things that really stood out to me that have really improved are my energy levels, my skin, which I was really shocked about, and just my overall mood and bloating and things like that. And I really like it because it's super simple. It's something that I don't forget to take every day because it's just a powder that I mix into my water, easy to drink and taste amazing. Another super important quality that I like to mention is that it's made with clean ingredients and by women's health experts. So we're not actually working against the hormones in our body. We're learning how to support them. Everything's clean.

There's no added sugar. And these experts really understand and grasp the concept that our bodies are constantly changing over time. So head to biologica.com slash insane to get started. Take their quick hormonal life stage quiz to find the formula that's right for you. And right now, subscribers can receive up to 32% off their purchase. Again, make sure to go to biologica.com slash insane. get up to 32% off your first subscription order today.

So let me ask you real quick. So the way that it happened was when the car went off the road and it was flipping down, so it was kind of like going down almost like a hill type of thing? It's pretty flat. Like it just had the momentum of it. And then supposedly what the crop said is that when a car is moving like that, it carries momentum. It gets faster before it slows down.

So were you, I guess the way you were ejected? It was just like it would hit and then it was like one of those times while the my side of the vehicle was in the air it just threw me. Because I wasn't wearing a seatbelt. That's not like a super normal thing where I'm from. Just like like I was never raised that way. Like my parents never really did like just small town like you just don't. Yeah. And so like now obviously I wear my seatbelt.

Right. But yeah. So then I was ejected. I was hanging in the air. My legs broken in front of my face. And I remember waking up immediately. And it was dark, even though in the picture, it's not totally dark yet. I was upside down.

I knew I was uncomfortable, not necessarily in pain. Do you remember what the first thought was when you woke up? Yeah. Yeah. And I was, so I was up there and immediately, like, my injuries were just gushing blood, like, so much. And everyone's like, oh, how didn't you bleed out? Well, that's also, like, a crazy story. So my main artery, my leg was ripped.

And if you rip a main artery, you're dead within a few minutes. Like not very long. The power line had pinched it off when I was up there. So I didn't bleed out. My main artery. My arm was also ripped, like totally ripped apart. And when I got ejected, my arms charred because it electrocuted me. And it cauterized that main artery.

And so it stopped the bleeding from getting electrocated. Literally, you're meant to be, like, it's insane. Yeah. Wild. That, like, that is like, okay, I'm supposed to still be here. What the hell? Yeah, crazy. And so like the chances of like two main arteries ripping and like somehow stopping the bleeding themselves or like with higher power is just crazy. And so there's

obviously still blood from like the moments of being thrown and like the blood that's still like in this limb that was. And that's why I don't think this arm like ever got like totally 100% because it just had no blood for it for so long. And same thing with my leg. That's why they had amputated it. So I was like wiping the blood out of my eyes like I could see because it was just running and I was wiping out of my mouth my nose because it was like drowning me. Yeah. Because I was not upside down. So it just like running and I was like what the heck like and I just knew it was like a bad situation and I started yelling for help because both my friends were knocked out at the bottom. I couldn't hear them and I'm faced the opposite way. So I can't

see them. They can see me. But as I said, they were knocked out and so I start calling for help. And luckily, it was right in front of a house, not super far from a house. And their power had, like, flickered. And they were like, oh, that's super weird. And they had a guest over. So, like, he was like, oh, I'll just head out. And they saw, like, my lights out or the car lights out in the field. And then they heard me.

And they were like, oh, my gosh. And so they came under. And they were like, there's no way. Like, this is real. And so the guy was just like, I don't know what to do. And the daughter, neither of them were religious. I don't think for 20, 30 years, something like that. And we were from very religious people.

I'm also religious. The girl just dropped down to her knees and sort of praying. She had no idea what to do. She was just like, this is the best I can do. And so she starts praying and the dad was like, he was like, I guess I'll pray too. And he like, I ended up talking to my dad after. And your daughter's the reason. Like I found God again after all these years.

And after they finished their prayer, they were like, well, like, I'll call 911. So they called 911 and maybe they I think another guy did I don't know by that time people started accumulated 991 run got called they grabbed the tarp holding it underneath me in case that skin were to break because like it wasn't a bone holding me up like the bone was completely it was literally skin like that is it holding my entire body right and I mean I would assume with the pressure that would be sharp and like sharpness yeah because have you like power lines right they're not soft yeah they're very rough and sharp and so like very crazy how I even stayed up for there that long. But I think like the loss of blood was also how I stayed there because like

it wasn't all going to my head like it was coming out at the same time. Your friends were they still unconscious? I think at that point they had woken up and they'd got help like pretty fast because they're on the ground like they're accessible for the EMTs. So they all showed up and I've actually spoke with the one EMT that like got me off the wire and he was like I remember showing up on that scene because if you listen to the 911 one call, which I'll send it to you so you can import it. I think they say possible broken leg. And she's like, that's what they tell the EMTs. And they're like, no, she's hanging from a power line.

She's like possible broken leg. And they're like, so they show up on scene thinking, oh, this isn't that bad. Yeah. No. And so they show up. She's also stuck in the air. Like, so what to get her down? Yeah.

And so he's like, he shows up and he was like, she's dead, right? And they were like, no. And he was like, you're lying. Yes, she is. And he was like, I dare you to go over and talk to her. So he walks over to me, stands underneath me. And I was like, hi, like, are you going to help me? And he was like, like, had no words.

Right. Yeah, he was just like, oh my gosh. Like, there's no way this is real life. And he was like, yeah, you fully had conversations with me. And like, I've never been the type not where we're from to say, sir, ma'am, but that's like what I was saying to people is like, sir, will you help me? And so I think that's just like the delusion of being through something so traumatic. I don't know.

And yeah. So they eventually helped me. And I also had another crazy memory. It was obviously my phone was gone in the field with the car. Like I don't have it up there with me. But I had a dream like a FaceTime call came through. And it was a picture of God like holding his hand through the water. And it's like my favorite picture of him.

And there was an accept and decline button. And I don't feel like all the pain. But I like remember feeling like my future was very uncertain. That was uncomfortable. Like the whole thing. And so I was just like, I want to go home. So I just started slamming the accept button. And it wasn't registering that I was clicking it.

And I was like, please, please, please, please. Like, please, like, I just want to go. And that just kept ringing, not recognizing. And eventually the screen went black. And I saw my reflection. And I was just bruised and bloody. And like, like, in rough shape. And I just started to cry because I was like, oh my gosh.

Like, I have to be here. Like, this is what I'm supposed to do. And at that point, it was very in the beginning. Didn't think I was going to be up there for an hour. Were you scared? Or do you, were you kind of like, was it like more like out of body? It was like out of body. Okay.

Like it was just weird. And town started showing up because like out there, people see lights. And there's nothing to do that they just show up. Like they will drive to go see where the lights are and they will like watch. And so people are like whipping out their phones, taking pictures, taking videos. Like you can't help, which I get, but like go home. Like give me some sort of like humility. Like I don't know.

Leave me something. Or like if you're not there to help, go. Get away. Seriously. Oh my gosh. Yeah. And so like it felt like being a zoo animal kind of just like, wow. Like thank you for.

Literally. I might not survive, but I hope you guys got the good picture. Yeah. Yeah. And we found out how there was a video actually because someone told us like, oh, this lady has a video. And we were like, what do you mean? She took a video. We found that sound like months after.

Yeah. And so we contacted her and we're like, why do you have a video? That's disgusting. Like you need to delete it off her phone and send. it to us like that is not okay and she was like well i thought it was my granddaughter why would you take a video of your granddaughter in the first place of like who are up there like if that was your granddaughter you would be like flipping out yeah so she's just super weird and still that video's never seen a light of day and i don't think it ever will because it's just hard

yeah and it's sad but yeah so that was really hard and then i remember him because like they in order to get me down they had to turn the power off they had to i think they brought the run truck because they weren't understanding because it was like possible broken leg. I don't know. A whole slew of things. And so they finally broke out the right truck. And I remember like them coming up to me and I was just like, you have to get me down. Like please, please, please. Like I don't have much longer. I can't do this. And I was like, I'm tired. And they're like, we're going to do it. And I could like feel the stress coming off of them. And even though they were trying to stay as calm as possible. And he said, which I don't remember this part that like as soon as he

got close enough to me, I like grabbed him, like immediately just hugged him and was like, thank you. And he was like, I remember seeing you. And I was like, I don't even know what to do because he's like, generally you go under the arm. Like he's like, I needed to grab you somewhere, but he was like, your arm was ripped off. Like it was, it was just dangling. And so he was like, I didn't know the best way to do it. And so then my next memory was when they had to take my leg off that wire and they had to take the bone and just like untangle it. And they put the tourniquet on. And they put the turniquet on. so I didn't like because as soon as that wire wasn't pinching that off I'd bleed out. And so the tourniquet was like the most pressurized awful feeling ever.

And then they had to take my bone out. And that's the only time I cried, the only time I screamed up there. Because when I started crying before, like I just pulled it together because I always thought crying was weak. Like at that point, I thought if I cried that I would die. And it seemed so extreme. But I think for me that would be a signal of like giving up. And so I finally was crying because it was so painful. And I remember like my body hitting that stretcher and it was like, oh, like, I think I'm not up there anymore.

And I had a sense of like you can like you can go now. Like you fought like it's not your tie. Like you don't need to do it anymore for yourself. And so I just remember closing my eyes and just being like, I'm good. One thing that I've noticed over the years is how much our environment truly affects us. What we're breathing in, everything around us, whether that's inside, outside, literally everywhere. And we talk so much about nervous system regulation and creating peace within and being the healthiest versions of ourselves. But something that I think we don't really think about

or even consider is the air quality that we're breathing in within our own homes. And that is when I found air doctor. And it is the only air purifier that I've been using and loving. And especially for me because I have seven cats and two dogs. So this is a very full household. It's very important for me to just know that my air is being purified and cleansed, because obviously no matter how good we take care of our animals, or even if you don't have animals, how much and how good you clean and take care of your house, I feel like your air can never be pure enough. And for me, personally, it makes me feel a lot better, knowing that my air is cleansed and that even when I'm vacuuming and stuff like that on the ground, my air is still being cleaned as well, because that's something

you obviously can't reach and can't do on your own. And some things that I've noticed right off the bat is that there's none of these lingering odors anymore. I'm not feeling heavy or congested when I wake up. And overall, I'm just having a lot better, more peaceful sleep throughout the whole night, and I swear it has to do with my air quality and the fact that I can actually breathe in some fresh clean air. Air doctor's powerful three-stage filtration system

captures particles that are actually 100 times smaller than the particles that a typical average air purifier would capture. So things like dust, pollen, mold spores, Pet Dander, which is obviously huge here, wildfire smokes, VOCs, and so much more. And it's super quiet and has an auto feature. So there is no more guessing. It completely adjusts based on your air quality, what's going on in the air, in your home. And it tells you when your filter needs to be changed, which is gold for me.

Because I do not have time, nor do I know when an air purifier filter needs to be changed unless it's going to tell me it does. Head to air doctorpro.com and use promo code insane to get $250. off, select Air Doctor Air Purifiers, including the 3,500, 4,000, and 5500 models. Plus, you'll receive a free three-year warranty on $84 value and Air Doctor's 30-day money-back guarantee. This is an exclusive podcast-only offer. Available now at Air Doctor Pro.com. That's A-I-R-D-O-C-T-O-R-P-R-O-com, using promo code insane.

How long did it take them once they were up there to actually get you off of the power line and onto the stretcher? I think a few minutes. Okay, so it was pretty quick. Yeah, pretty quick. And at this point, they got me in the ambulance and my dad had showed up and they were like, hey, or he saw everything. Not he didn't see me up there, which like I can't imagine as a parent, like how that would have gone. But he got there, saw everything, immediately saw the car out in the field and sprinted towards it. And because he had found out because my grandpa was on our life 360 and he would just like track us all the time.

And he called my dad and was like, hey, it's weird. Like there's police lights down the road and your daughter's phone isn't that same area. Like I don't know what's going on. And she's like, oh, I'll call her because like I always answered my phone and I didn't answer. And he was like, it's her. I know it. And so he went there, went out to the car. Obviously I'm not there.

And at that point, I was in the ambulance. And one of the guys there was like, hey, she's in here. And so they were like, you can't come in yet. So he just, like, dropped to his knees and started praying. He was just like, I, like, please don't take her. And they were like, hey, you can go in and say her goodbye. It's like, she's not making it. She'll be very lucky if she makes this flight to Portnaf.

And because that's like an hour drive from where we were. So I don't know, like, flight time what that would be. So, but just not very far. And they were like, there's no way. Like, so say your goodbyes now. And so he came in and kissed me on the forehead. And my grandpa, like, grabbed him and dragged him in the truck. And they were like, we drove so fast to, like, meet you there.

And he's like, the whole way I could just, like, taste. Because, like, I was just tasted your blood the entire. And I just was thinking, like, I can't lose you. And my mom at that point was headed that way. And I don't, that's kind of where my memory is, like, black for a while. Yeah. Because when I know, they put me in a medical induced coma, they thought I was, like, brain dead. Like, they didn't know what the extent of my injuries were because I'd hit my head on the power line.

because when I'd go ejected and then electrocuted that shocked me so hard that I like swung and hit my head. And so like I actually have a bald spot from like it like scalped me back there. And so like random but like I don't know. So they just like took all that into consideration. And yeah. So that's kind of like the whole accident scene of it. That is insane. And like the fact like to survive that.

And like I know you mentioned too like. As a parent, you can't imagine seeing it. But I feel like even the EMT is like to show up to that. And then to know you're still alive up there. Because you know what I mean? It's like, oh, shit. Like it's in our hands now to keep her alive. Yeah.

They all had to go home that night. Like they were like, they all had more to do that night. Like longer shifts and they were like, we're done. Like we can't. And they were like, we need to go home to our family. So they all left. And they were like still. And did your, so at this point, did your mom?

know yet? Yeah, she knew my dad had called her. Okay. She was on her way to the hospital. Like, since she wasn't like, I don't have like a lot of like that side of the story of what her feelings were or probably just stress and anxiety. But yeah. And so I was at that hospital for, I don't even know if I think it was to like 11 a.m. that next day. So not super long just overnight for them to stabilize me. And they were like, yeah, we don't know what to do with her. Like we don't deal with these types of injuries. And so they're like, we have to send her away. So they flew. me the next day at the University of Utah. And I even got there, which is a trauma level one center, which is like they deal with cases like this more often. They were like, we don't see these

injuries only in like war. Like this is not a normal thing. And so they like even struggled, but like luckily they had amazing doctors and that's why I have the function that I do in my arm. I'm so super blessed. And also I mean, it looks great. Like it's, you know what I mean? I feel like, like, because there's one scar here, right? Yeah. You can see it all in the middle. because, like, I have a picture, which I can also send for you for the podcast so they can see. But, like, there's, like, a whole, like, a massive hole. And they brought all that skin together without a scurgy graft. So even this one, like, right here is, like, it's so faded.

You can barely see it. Yeah. And then I got scars, like, all here from other surgeries of, like, giving me hand function again. But, yeah, like, amazing doctors that, like, gave me the life that I definitely have now. Yeah. So, like, all my injuries that I had were a broken femur from the power line. My arm was broken, and I have a scar on the back from where the bone, like, busted out. My collar bone was broken, and then my injury from my arm is called a brachialplexus injury.

You have five main nerves that were in your arm. Three of mine were pulled from the root, so I was leaking spinal fluid, and the other two were just stretched. And so actually, when my accident first happened, I had no function. Like, it was completely paralyzed. And then, like I said, my main, two main arteries were ripped. And in total, I've had 21 surgeries since, like, from the accident, a year after to get a little bit more function. But yeah, I spent seven weeks in the hospital. I was indivated, which was like the worst experience ever because you just got like the whole

tube down your throat. The only way I could communicate was hand squeezes. And so at first, like this hand was even so weak. Like I could barely move. And so they would like put their hand in. And it was like squeeze once for yes and squeeze no or squeeze twice for no. And squeeze three times for I love you. And so that's like what we communicated because I couldn't talk. And then I could finally get to a point where I could like write in their hands a little bit. But that was like really hard for them to understand. And so I'd get really frustrated and just like swipe it away and cry because you're just in so much pain at that point. And no one understands.

No one can help you. There's nothing they can do. And you're just like literally just wanting to die all over again because you can't do anything. Yeah. And so now like I feel like my pain scale. Like I go to the doctor and like, what's your pain scale out of one to 10? And I'm like, I have no idea. Like that's totally broken.

I know what it's like to be at an excruciating 10. And I could never get anywhere close to that. But like on a day to day, I'm just like, ugh. So. Right. It's just hard. And then when you got to the hospital or you, do you remember any of that, like being awake at all? One of my first memories, which is weird that it's my first memory because I had my, it's not like it's my first memory, but for some reason that's how it came to me.

Because like I remember the hand squeezes, but that was all. Okay. I don't know. Because my vision was also gone. Like I couldn't see. It was all black. It were like very tunnel vision, just weird. And how long was it like that for?

I felt like days. Okay. Like genuinely days. And I remember this nurse she'd come in. Like again, it's not my first, not in order, but like this is how I remember it. And she put in a feeding tube. That's what she was trying to do. It felt like she was sticking like a popsicle stick up my nose.

And I was like, get that out. Like what are you doing? And she like kept trying. And I was like, you are not my nurse. And I was like so bossy at this point. Like always been pretty fiery, but like coming out of that, I was like, mm-mm. And so I was like, you are not my nurse. Get out of here.

So there was like instances with nurses where I was just like, oh. Or I was like the worst patient ever, especially like later on when I was in so much pain because they finally taught me how to use the button to call on the nurse. Because at that point, I was on like the 15 minute. Like they'd have to come in every 15 minutes. And they'd come in. But then they'd tell me the button and I would just like click it because like I didn't know what to do. Like I just wanted help.

Like, I just wanted comfort, but you just can't in that situation. It's, like, so hard to, like, think back on it because it's just like, oh, I never want to feel that way in my entire life again. Did they ever come in and tell you about your leg? Like, did they amputate it right away? Yeah, so they amputated it pretty quick. I had five imputations in total, actually. So they, my break were the power line. I was hanging there.

Obviously, there was no blood for an hour. So that's like kind of a long time. And so they originally took it through my knee and to give me like the most like because if you have more like if you see amputees, the more like you have, the more mobility you'll have the easier it is for you to walk and all. So they were like, okay, we're going to take it here. And it just kept dying. Like the tissue just kept rotting away.

And so they were like it was like a, they would literally saran wrap it like a meat slicer and they just go in like every other day and just cut it off. And so like horrific. And I was like awake for. Like, not awake during the surgeon, but like, they'd be like, oh. And I don't remember, like, a ton of that because my dad told me at my fourth amputation. I think my third or fourth amputation that I lost my leg. And he, I remember my reaction. He was like, you, I have to tell you something. Like, the room was so heavy. Like, emotionally, you could just feel it. And he's like, I have to tell you something. And I was like, okay. And he was like, they had to take your leg. But, like, I promise you'll be able to run again. You'll be able to walk again. You'll be able to play soccer again. Because I'm like, I have to tell you. I love soccer. I was big in it. And I was like, okay, okay. And the first thing I asked was, well, did either my friends lose their legs or limbs or anything substantial, like permanently? And he was like, no. And I said, well, I'm God, I'm the one that did because it was my fault.

Because I can't imagine the, like, I even to this day, like struggle with the guilt. Like it's something I just cannot shake. And I don't think I ever can. Like even running into the, those kids' parents and family, like, I just like, shame just like, rolls over me because I just ugh and so they're like no and they still had substantial injuries like the girl had a broken neck back in pelvis made a full recovery and the boy

hadn't broken neck and pelvis like full recovery but yeah so I think I was just so grateful that like I was the one that it happened to and yeah and so I'd been told like I was going to run again everything and he was like okay just so you know like you've had amputations and

he didn't tell me how far or anything but then I could tell like that night I think it had to have been the fourth invitation because that night I started getting sick, like really, really sick because they'd went in and the fourth mutation, they were like, it looks really good. Like, it's not rotting away. And if we can keep it here, she'll be able to walk, she'll do it all. But like, if not, and we had to take it at the break, which was a little bit higher, they were like, she'll never walk again. Like very cut and dry. And so they just were like hoping and praying that, like it would all work out. And by that night, I could tell,

like, something wasn't right. And I, like, was overheating to the point. And I, like, was overheating to the where like I literally felt like I was dying all over again. Like I don't even know how to explain it. And I was like this little person on a beach like doing all these tasks. And I remember I started like elevating up this cliff and at the top was God. And I was like, oh my gosh, no, I'm not ready. Like I have so much to do. And it was like the earth. And it was such a weird way to come to me. But like I literally felt my body dying. And I went into surgery and the nurses came in and like took care of it. And then I had to go into surgery and they cut the rest of my leg off top here. And now I don't have much of a limb.

My bones, like, maybe that long. I mean, I'm walking out. So, like, the doctors were wrong and everything, luckily. Yeah. But, yeah, just crazy. And then when I found out how short it was, that was really traumatic. Because I wasn't educated on amputees or disability, nothing. Like, I was 16.

Yeah. Like, that is, it's crazy. Yeah. So, like, for me, I'm like, oh, maybe my foot's gone. I didn't ask questions. And so PT had come in, like, 24 hours after my life. last surgery of cutting my leg off. And they were like, hey, we're going to do 10 squats today. My parents were like, no, she's not. Like, she just got out of surgery. What are you thinking?

And I was like, oh, I'm good. Like, I can do it. So they sat me up at a 90 degree angle and I wouldn't look down. I was like, oh, my dress covered it, my gown. And they were like, yeah, you're good. And so I did my 10 squats. And I was laughing at making jokes. And I was like, oh, I'll do like two extra for because I can. And so I did. And I looked down after I sat down. And my gown was like, pulled all the way up and I saw how short, which I had dressings all over it. Like it was covered. Yeah. But like I saw the length of it and I was like, oh my gosh. And I just started crying. I was like, I can't believe this is all I have left. Like what am I supposed to do with this? This is nothing. And my parents are just like, we're so sorry. Like we we didn't know like what to say.

Like we don't know. And I pulled it together. And the nurse was like, will you touch it? And I was like, I'm not touching that thing. Like I want nothing to do with that. Like it's weird. And At 16, like, I'm used to having normal body and all of a sudden you don't. But I ended up touching it and I was like, oh, it's super weird. And then my name in the hospital was trauma gobi. And because I was a minor, so they have to give you a new name. And so actually my nubs named gobi now. Uh-huh.

And it's a boy. I don't know why. Yeah. It drives my husband absolutely nuts actually because he's like, it's so weird that you call it a boy. But like, it's just been a boy. Mm-hmm. So weird. But like I came up with the gobi dance.

And so, like, I have a video where. where I like start shaking, moving it in a circle for like the mobility purposes. And I was like, go, go, go, me, go. And so like, the nurse was like, this is crazy that you just have like bounce like this through it all. And that's just like kind of how it kept going. And I remember sending voice on most of my friends of like motivating them to keep going because they were really struggling, especially one of them. She really struggled to keep going in the hospital.

Like, her back just hurt so bad, which I didn't know what that was like. I had different injuries. But were you guys in the same hospital or they were able to get treated at the other one? I think we were all three in different hospitals. Okay. Yeah. And so not close, but we'd send like video messages and yeah to like help motivate each other to get out. We just wanted to be together again.

But yeah. So you were in there for seven weeks. Yeah. And throughout that seven weeks, did they do the majority of the surgeries then? Yeah. So they did majority of the surgeries towards like in the first few weeks. So I was in the ICU for a while. And then I got transferred to like the regular unit.

And I was in there for a little bit after I was like stable, pretty stable. And then after they felt like I was... Hey, y'all, it's Kelly Clarkson with Wayfair. Ever order furniture online and wonder what if? Like, what if it doesn't hold up? That sofa was four days old. You should have ordered from Wayfair. With Wayfair, there's no what if.

Just style you love and quality you can trust. Visit Wayfair.com. Wayfair, every style, every home. not ready to be discharged because you have to go to rehab. And so I went to like a children's hospital for rehab. And I was there for a few weeks. I don't know how long. I just know seven weeks in total and it was horrendous.

And the doctors had like quoted me to be the hospital till September. And this happened in May. And I was like, I will not be there till September. And I got out right before my birthday in July. So yeah. And so I just spent a lot of time getting better. And at this point, my mom and sister, I'd started my social media. And so they were keeping updates on people.

And then they were like, okay, like, if you want to keep this up, you've got to kind of do it. And so then that's kind of how that started of me posting videos about a little bit about my accent, giving details and how I was doing. And just videos of how I was feeling. And I think people really, like, love that honesty of like, wow. And like, it was just so real and raw. Because, like, I didn't know any better. I was 16. Like, I didn't know what to do to go viral.

I didn't know. And I wasn't doing it for that. Like I was just doing it for myself. And I think that's honestly what helped me is having the outlet to like it was very therapeutic for me. Yeah, to be able to talk about it and just kind of let everything out and not hold back in a way. Yeah. When you made the transition from hospital to home or was it hospital and then like a rehab center? It was still like in the hospital though. Like I was there full time. I went home. And then when you went home, How was that transition for you? I guess mentally, physically, everything. It's really hard because in the hospitals, they do everything for you.

Like, they help you get dressed. They help you brush your teeth. They help you push you in a wheelchair. They put your deodor on, like all of it because it's hard. Like to relearn to do everything with one hand. Like they would wash my hair, like my mom would wash my hair and my aunts and all of that. And so then you go home. Like I said my support system, but you don't have someone.

like continually taking care of you. And then you also have to be in the real life of seeing people. Like in the hospital, you see everyone's sick. Everyone is going through something hard. You don't see normal people. And so then you go home and you look across the street and you see the neighbor kids like running around and playing in. And you're like, wow.

Life still goes on. Yeah. Yeah. Like I just, I can't do that. Because at the point, I was in a wheelchair. And then it's like, yeah, like washing my hair with one arm like was so hard. It just gets tired because you're like, you have to wash it twice. and then to conditioner it, and it's like, oh.

And so I couldn't do that. And then figuring out deodor on one arm, like, to like, it's just so foreign when you're used to just having the two arms. And then, like I said, this arm was, like, completely paralyzed. And so, like, it was literally everything with one hand. At least now, like, it does some things. Right. A lot. Honestly, a lot.

Yeah. Like, I wouldn't even have known, honestly. Yeah. It's, like, crazy what it's done. And, I mean, it looks skinny. And I can tell my shoulder blades kicks out and stuff. So there's things, but, like, it does so well. for like what I was told I would get.

And so I'm super grateful. But yeah, it was just like mentally really. I think that's when I started struggling the hardest mentally. Just because then you also get put back in the environment of people that you used to know. And like when high school with and we're friends with and they like start coming to see you and they look at you different. And they're like have just pity in their eyes for you, which I get like I totally not upset at it about it. But it's hard to be like looked at that way and look so differently. Once again, I think that age and kids, they don't know how to react.

It's like none of us are conditioned to know what to say or how to show up. And even to this day, like we were in D.C. for a few days. And we were like, I can walk and I can walk for a while, but like I get tired. Like I can't do it for very long. My back starts hurting my leg like will start swelling up and stuff. And so like we brought my wheelchair to like get in and out throughout the day. And there's like eighth graders everywhere. And for some reason, like it's been five years.

And when I'm around people my age too, like, that age, like middle school age, they just don't understand or they don't know, like, they don't view you, like, normal. They're like, oh, you're different than us. And like, I don't know why, but I'm like, oh, they probably think I'm just like have a mental disability too, because like automatically those kids just like they could, I feel like a lot of them do just associate you with like a wheelchair, mental disability, physical disability, whatever. And I was like, well, I just struggle. Like, I didn't want to be in a wheelchair all because I was just like, even I don't know who they are, they don't know who I am.

You're human. You know, and I think no matter how confident you are in yourself and you, you know, you know your story, you share your story, I think that unfortunately we still do to some degree care what people think. And, you know, it's obvious when people are looking at you. And I, you know, and it's, I think that's something too. Like, I mean, I was always taught that, you know, like if someone's different, don't stare or something like that. And I mean, it sounds small, but it's true because it's those little things that it's like,

in those moments, the last thing somebody wants to feel is like they're different. They just want to, if anything, it's like, yes, you know, like, okay, I can't, maybe I have to go in the wheelchair to kind of, because I get tired and my body just can't do what it used to do, but you still want to feel like you're a young girl doing your thing, you know, like, and it's hard. Yeah. And so I definitely, realize like because normally I travel with my husband and that's different for me like I normally don't feel that way as much because it's a good look at like he's handsome and he loves me and like people can see that and they're like oh she and it's so and it's all in my head and I totally know it but like so many people can relate to that. I'm just like he like I have someone that does love me and cares for me

and like knows that I'm normal and like people see that but like when my mom's pushing me it feels like oh people probably like oh she's like that's a caregiver like I. I don't know. There's something in it. And like, I never realized that about myself until I travel with my mom for the first time. And I was like, this is so, because like with my husband, I just don't. Like, he just makes me feel normal. He makes me feel loved. He makes me feel cared for. And no one, he doesn't let people not talk to me. Like, yeah, it's like, she's right here. Like, you can talk to her and like she's a human. Right. And so, but like, yeah, with my, it's just like something in my head. That just is like, oh. And like, I apparently still struggle with

and not even fully realizing. It's once again, I think too, I mean, five years isn't that long at all, you know, like we are saying. I mean, that is something I feel like we learn and we change and we grow. And I mean, I say this to all of the people that are on here, no matter if it's like emotional trauma, physical trauma, whatever it might be, you know, we have times and days and even long periods where I feel like you feel fine, nothing. bothers you, and then you might go through a rut where everything pisses you all. Everything

bothers you, but that's kind of just part of this experience. Yeah. You know, but it's pain because it's like we're our own mind is battling itself and you're like, this is all in my head and it's driving me nuts. Like, why do I care? Or why is this bothering me? And I think, like I said, too, a few minutes ago, I think that's something a lot of people can relate to because at the end of the day, I think everyone just wants to feel good and get better and feel strong. You know, like, I got this. Yeah. And sometimes when you have those moments, it can be really frustrating and defeating. And you can also, like, I can tell. Like, when I'm walking and people look at me different. It's like, wow, you're strong. You're inspirational when I'm up and walking because I look different,

which, like, don't say I'm an inspiration for breathing. Like, that's not a reason to be an inspiration. Like, if you actually, you can, like, I know I am based on. off what I've accomplished and what I've done, but you don't actually know anything I've done. You just think that because you physically look at me. But in a wheelchair, it's like pity eyes. And I noticed that like literally I would get up and people, oh, it's like, wow. And then I'd sit down and it's like, oh, don't look. Or like, oh, I feel sorry. And it's like, what's a difference? Like I literally, it's just from sitting and standing. And like, that's been really hard because, again, I'm not in a wheelchair a lot. As we're traveling mostly and different things.

but that's always a really hard reality check for me of the difference. And I get like people just aren't educated. And like I'm never going to be the type of person that's like, oh, they pissed me off or like whatever. They're so disrespectful because they don't know any better. I'm not going to get mad. And there are some amputees and people with disabilities that get so mad. And you can't ask them questions because they just are so defensive and they're angry.

And it's like you have to realize like I wouldn't have known any better if I wasn't put in the situation. That's the best way to say it. Yeah. Yeah. And so true. And so it's like, I'm not mad. It's just like, okay, like you have to remember this. You have to like your self worth is not based off what you look like and I really had to learn that. Absolutely. And then so during this time when you were recovering at home, how long until, like how long did you have to be home for until you could go back to school? Yeah. So my accident happened. I missed like the last week of school because it was Saturday. There was one more week. And then. It was summer. I got home in July and high school started August, middle of August, and a little towards the end, I guess. And I went back in a wheelchair. Good for you. And I didn't want to go back in a wheelchair. And I probably wouldn't have, but the nurse actually,

right before I left, I'd gotten out of bed when I wasn't supposed to, to like, I was on FaceTime with my friends. And my, like, dressing had come off. And she came in and fixed it and ayes wrapped it instead. And it busted the end of my leg open. And so, like, I had to go through weeks. and weeks and weeks of like fixing that hole. And so I didn't get a walk until October, I think. And so I was in high school for two months with in a wheelchair. Still though. Yeah. That's fast. It was fast. Yeah. Because I've had people be like, oh my gosh. Like they'll stop me in Costco or whatever. And they're like, how long have you been an amputee for? Or like, how long did it take you to walk? And it was like a few months.

And like they were like, well, when you got your first leg? Like, when did you stop using a crutch? And I was like three days. Like, I was so fast. because I just didn't want to, like, I was so motivated to be better and just be independent. And like, it sucked. Like I felt all the time because I just didn't want that crutch. But like, I generally, that's where I, like how I am where I'm at now is because I was just so motivated to move on. And then were you still struggling with a lot of pain? Yeah, I struggle with pain to this day.

Okay. I struggle with nerve pain. And so those nerves that got pulled, I just, yeah. So my nerve pain is oddly in these two fingers. fingers only, really. And it just feels like burning, stabbing, like constantly. It's worse than other times. There's not anything you can really do for it. It was on Lyrica. I actually just got off. Super happy about it because it causes dementia or Alzheimer's, I can't remember which one. Being on a long term and that scared me really bad. And I was just like, I can't do this.

Like, I can't be on. And if I allow myself to be on this medication for the rest of my life, I will. And it didn't ever take the pain away. It just was like, but if I couldn't, if I didn't take it at night, like, my body knew. and I couldn't sleep. I would have hot flashes. It was really bad. And so I was like, I'll start tapering. So I actually started tapering and I recently got off. That's awesome.

Yeah, super happy. But overall, like, it sucks. Sometimes I thought of, like, that's probably what my hardest mental health days is the thought of knowing that I'm going to be in pain for the rest of my life. Like, at 16 years old, like, that's not fair for, like, the rest of my life to be that way. Like, most people, it's like, oh, you get old and you get arthritis. or whatever, but me, it's like 16, and like, I have to do that the rest of my life. And so, like, that thought can get wearing on me sometimes.

I know that you talked about kind of during that time of being home, I guess, and going, I guess maybe this transitions into going to school as well, but your mental health kind of being more worse around this time. How did you find that that really, like, how did you get that to improve for yourself? I think it improved because I'd probably say I was posting more on social media and I was getting like obviously really mean comments and that would like hurt it sometimes. But at the same time I was getting so many comments that people were like, you got this. Like they were building me up and they were like, wow, like I can't live you survive something like that. And you're still here and you're still choosing and you're sharing like what your life is.

And so that made me feel pretty good. And that helped a lot. And then when I started doing things, like not just sitting at home, like six months out, plus my accident, my arm was still broken because my arm, like, for some reason, wouldn't heal. And I went snowboarding. I was just like, okay, let's do that. So I did. And I think feeling capable again of doing things, like really helped me of like, okay, like this, this is good for me.

Yeah, so I snowboarded, skied, surfed. Like, I've done it all rock climbed. and then like that helps me. And then when I started public speaking, which I think I started a year after, I didn't want to. My mom actually signed me and her up for one, like a mother-daughter thing. And I was so anchor. I was like, are you kidding me? Like I did not want to do that. And then I fell in love with it. And I just watched like the reactions of people. And I think knowing what I can do to others, because I've like watched it firsthand. Like I feel that power on a stage of like what I can do for others. And I watched the reactions and then then coming up to me after. And that makes me feel good

of like I bettered your life or I gave you a new perspective or I gave you the stepping stones of what to do to like get on the track of a better mental health. Because that's what I try to do in most of my speeches is like empower and make you feel worthy and powerful again. And it does that for me as well. Yeah. I'm sure every time it does. Yeah.

And the thing is too is, and this goes for anything and for anybody at any stage of life, I feel like it's so easy for us to sweat the small stuff and be really overwhelmed or stressed or angry, depressed even. And I know a lot of times, obviously with mental health, that's not something we can always control. But I think hearing a story like yours and even from somebody that was feeling that way as well prior to kind of know how fast life can change. Like we always hear the terms like life is so short, you know, and even just people

hearing stories and thinking, oh, well, that would never happen to me. Yeah. You know, but that can just completely change your perspective. Of one, how good you have it. And two, that it can all be taken away in a second. And it's scary. Yeah. And I think it's really important not to get so caught up on the little

unimportant things that we think are just, you know, the end of the world sometimes. I think that's what I've learned is like my dad used to, because like he's had a really really hard life. Yeah, I was going to say, how was he doing too? Is he doing better? Yeah, he's better, but like, just even from his childhood. Like, he's just like, it feels like been beat up on, like, his entire life. And he, I remember he would go on car rides to back to the hospital, because I'd go two times a week to back to Salt Lake to go to my appointments. And so we spent a lot of time in the car. And he's like, how are you not angry? Because, like, even though I struggle with my mental, I was never angry. And I never, like, showed it that well. Because, like,

I was still so grateful. And he was just like, I just don't get. He's like, I've been angry my entire life. And he was like, I just don't understand like how you just aren't. And I was like, because like I'm here. Like I go on a second chance. Like I have an opportunity to like make this a career. I have an opportunity to help others. I have like I'm just grateful I'm here. And you're able to take something so horrible. Yeah. And scary that happened to you and turn it into something so powerful. Yeah. And so life changing for yourself and for other people. Yeah. And I know plenty of people with disabilities, you meet them often, that like they have no confidence, no self-worth, no nothing, and they don't have no drive because, and it's not their fault. It's just hard.

Like, it's not an easy thing, but because it's like, well, my life is over. And I, and I genuinely believe that. It's like, well, and whatever. And for me, it's like, I would way rather, like, my life's not going to change. The leg's not growing back. My arm's not going to come back. Like, none of that's ever going to come back. But I still have a life to live. Like, do I want to spend? six, like at 16 years old and live major, almost my entire life this way, sad, feeling sorry for myself, being a burden on others because like I feel sorry for myself. Like that is not sound enjoyable to me. Like I have to live regardless. So like might as well make it a good one. And that's why I think it always comes back to like choose your heart because I know what it's like to have those

feelings of depression and sadness and suicide and all those feelings. And that's like so hard. But there's no benefit out of it. There's literally no benefit for you. It just hurts you. Except more of it too. Yeah. Yeah. It's just a cycle. But then there's also the other side of hard where it's like, yeah, like working down is hard and moving your body is hard and doing hard things and going up in front of hundreds of people to speak. That's hard. But there's a benefit of it. You're helping others. And it makes you feel better. Like you're you're getting those endorphins and that's what's helped me is like, is it really worth it to like lay in bed and scroll? And like obviously I have those days. Like I'm, I'm no better than anyone else. Like, absolutely. But like, generally, that's

what I try to remember is just like, you still have to live this life. Like, your leg's not coming back. Your life's never going to be the same. And honestly, I'm to a point where I would ever want it to be. Like, I'm so grateful, like, for my life. I. Yeah. And I was, I was going to ask you, too, kind of going off of that, when you mentioned just even after the accident and kind of feeling that, I guess, guilt in a way of driving the car. And, along those lines because I'm sure was there was everything or did everything hit you at once like all of those different moving parts of I guess like when you said even now like when you're telling your story and you're like I hate like thinking back about this part did those feelings come over time or was

that something that kind of happened just kind of it was all the aftermath of it just replaying it all and looking back at it like how how did those feelings come about and I guess how do you sort through them. I think it all happened at once. I remember the hospital and it was like just everything. Like the pain, the guilt and like not even the guilt for my friends, but for my family. Because I remember, like, I wasn't super in the know of everything, but my parents were like, we got an apartment like you don't.

And I was like, you guys can't like, you can't be, because they like dropped everything. My parents never left my side of the seven weeks. They, I always had one parent there with me, if not both of them, like constantly. And I just felt so bad for what I did. And my little sister, I have a sister, she's 15 now, but she was 10 back then when it happened. And she like got bounced around to our families to take care of her because my parents were with me. And then like I had two older siblings and it's just like the guilt of. So like still is hard.

But I think I just had to realize like. You can't hold on to it. I can't like. And I still do even though I don't want to. Like I feel guilty even to say like I'm just a harder kid to take care of. more complicated. Like, I get all of that, but, like, there's nothing I can do. And I'm doing my best.

And I didn't intentionally ever mean to have this happen. Do that to other people, do that to my family. Do you still stay in touch with the other two kids? I'm in touch with one of them. We were friends up until, like, I think, a year. But I all kind of fell off. I just think it wasn't ever anything like, oh, the accident. Like, that's really not what it was.

I just think we graduated. And then it was kind of like, oh, we kind of all do your thing. different thing. Yeah. They're not like super close, but I still have so much love for both of them of like that stage of life and the friendships that I got from it. And then when you started speaking, when you used your first public speaking event with your mom, you said after that, you kind of fell in love with it. You liked it. And then you've just continued doing it since then, right, along with talking about your story on social media. Yeah. So I did it once. And then I never, really been the type to like reach out about speaking. I have and it just never like landed.

Maybe I just don't know the best way to do it. But like every time they come to me like I just I love it. And so I've made I spoke at like trauma symposiums to surgeons, doctors. I spoke at like a cutera. It's a I don't use it for like cosmetic reasons, but I used it for muscle regrowth and like my glute because my glute in this leg and my nub just don't have any muscle. And so like I used it for rehabilitation things. And so I spoke to like Hollywood plastic surgeons that like do for celebrities. Like it was crazy and it was so intimidating. But it was so like cool that like I got that opportunity. I speak to high school students, middle schools. I just spoke for and it's a National Highway Traffic Safety Association because like I have such a fiery passion for

that like being safe behind a wheel because yeah. Again, you don't think it'll ever happen to you until it does. And they're just something about, like, taking the precautions to, like, not have to go through something like that. And so, yeah, I started just, I speak anywhere and I can kind of alter my speech for any crowd. And, like, a lot of people are like, oh, will this work? And I'm like, I can, I can change it however to, like, fit your crowd. Right. Right. And I got it now. Yeah. And I got it. And I just love it. And then, yeah, social media. And I've, and I've kind of, like, altered away from the accident because, like, I'm not just going to be, like, my power line picture. Because, like, that obviously gets views because people,

like it's crazy. Yeah. But like that's not my life anymore. It's like the recovery and the mental health. Yeah. And so now I share like what it's like really to live in the body that I live in. And some of the struggles like I shared my whole lyric kind of getting off and that like really resonated with people because there's people all over the world that like struggle with medication use and want to get off if I can't. And so like that gave people a lot of courage.

And then I did a high rocks, which like I don't know if you know much about it. But like it's a physical competition you do. it's like eight kilometer run and then eight exercises and we did a relay so there's four of us and so we split into force and it was like the hardest thing I've ever done but like it was so rewarding to be like wow I did that and like to push yourself because I chose that because it was something that scared me and like I'm not ever going to allow something to be like that scares me I'm not going to do it like most people do there's so many people in my life that like now give me excuses like it's kind of crazy like I'll go to the gym and people come up to me like wow I saw your high

Rock's video and I'm like, oh yeah, and they're like, that's so awesome. But I could never do it. And they're like a fully four-limbed human right there. And I'm like, you just sold that to me. Like, yeah. I don't know. And so like I just love sharing like the real and raw. And I'm just never going to be that fake person on social media. Like I see plenty of it. I see plenty of disabled creators that do it that are like, my life's amazing. Right. It's like. I know better. I was like, I, yeah, I don't believe that. But like, I just can't. How crazy is it too? I always think, And that's part of one of the main reasons. I love this show and love welcoming people to tell their full story.

Because a lot of times people will be like, should I just focus on this one part? And I'm like, no. Because there are, it's amazing what people can relate to. Like, you know, the medication aspect and things like that. Like I'm sure, too, when you started sharing your story, you know, we don't even realize the depth of telling the things we've been through, the things we feel, how people can relate to even just an emotion or a reaction. They're like, huh, I've done that.

And I don't feel so alone now. And I think that's so, it's so powerful. And even if you're not directly speaking to somebody, it's like this community is still being built because people feel seen and they feel heard. And the thing is, too, is you, I always tell people this. I feel like it gets repetitive, but I mean it from the bottom of my heart. By sharing your story, you empower so many people, not only to share theirs,

but to get up maybe, even just that day. Just get up and do something different, even if it's the smallest thing. And that is incredible. We need more of that for sure. And I've got like comments about that. And like that's what gets me to do what I do. And it's like that pushes me to want to go do different things. Because I never want someone like no matter what your ability is, no matter what illness you have, no matter what it is.

Like you are capable. Your mind is so much stronger than people think it is like genuine that high rocks the entire time. You see the videos, it looks so inspirational and amazing. I can promise you what was going through my head is I hate my life. This is the worst thing I've ever done. I want to quit. I want to quit. I hate this. Even though I'm not a quitter.

I'm not one that would ever be like, I'm done this. I just, it's not my personality. I just think it's so important to show the real and raw. And I think that's why I don't really follow a lot of influencers. It's hard. It's hard. I can't stand it. I know.

And people are like, well, you are one. And I'm like, yeah, but like I see the like even the enthusiastic like, oh my gosh, keep reading. And it's like, I'm going to like talk like me. I'm going to be me and I'm going to be that. Because I think it helps. I know. And I think that I always say this too.

Social media is so good and it's so bad. You know, like there are things like this where you're able to connect and share. And, you know, one of the biggest things is like the fact that people can just type something in, a feeling, a story, a situation and a video like this pops up and it's somebody just telling their story, raw and open. Incredible. But then there's that other. side of things where it's like the constant comparison. And I'm sure, you know, everyday people deal with that, just comparing themselves or their life looks so better than mine. And no one will ever show you the worst of things. No one's going to show you the fights with people. No one's going to show you

the internal battles that they're going through. And I think that's the downside of it because that can lead a lot of people into depression. It can lead them to thinking grass is green or somewhere else and it's not. And it's really difficult. And that's something. that I think that there's no, like that line is very blurred. Yeah. Because it's entertainment, but we think it's real, but it's not. Yeah, it's hard. People's jobs.

And so, yeah, like, comparison is one of my biggest things I've struggled with. And I've, like, worked a lot on it. Like, I used to really bad. Like, I work really hard in the gym. It's one of my favorite things. But then you see, like, a girl and you're like, wow, like, she looks so good. And, like, obviously, like, I cannot grow my left glue. Like it will never physically be equal to my right one.

And I remember like I would look at girls and I'd be like, wow, like what it would be like to have a normal looking but again like, but then it's like you know what? Like what's the point? What is that? What's that going to bring me? Yeah, literally. It's just like I were in such different phases like I'm sure not very many people look at me and think like that which like I wouldn't ever want them to but like I've learned I'm in

competition with myself like not anyone else because we're in two completely different stages of life. We're working at two different things, goals, all of it. And so for me, I'm just like, am I better? Like, if I can look back and be like, am I better than I was a year ago? Absolutely. Am I accomplishing more than I was a year ago? Absolutely. Am I happy? Yes. And like, that's what brings me joy is like being in competition with my past self. And like, that's what I've had to learn to like, you know, most of my positiveness and happiness is like, you can't look outside the box because you're always going to find something better. But then like if you actually had walk those person's shoes, there's going to be a whole slew of things that they've got issues as well.

And the thing, too, like, based on what you said, the thing that I love also, because this is something where I feel like it's one of two things. You either come to this realization with time and experience and age or you come to the realization when you don't have it as good anymore. And I mean, I think we're all guilty of this, whether people are super young or you are very, not service up, but like you care a lot about the external appearance. Yeah. And that's all good, you know, like everybody knows when you look good, you feel good, and we all deserve to feel pretty and stuff.

But it's very easy, especially once again, like we were saying, with social media and the comparisons and this perfection and this, that matter, we're always striving to like look a certain way, you know? And I think everyone's guilty of it, whether it's even just like hair or makeup or body. And it's so sad that we be. ourselves up so much to like to look a certain way and feel a certain way and like you just mentioned with like oh like to have a butt like that but it's like like like you just said like okay like obviously that's such a normal thought you know anybody would think that but then it's like

you have to ask yourself what would that what what does that even bring me you know what I mean right and that's the funny thing though is like we don't we don't always think like that because we're so we're focused on like striving it look like this or comparing and this, that and the other. And it's almost like, it's crazy that it takes a lot of the times. And this can go for any situation, not just this, but almost, when I was cutting an apple a few weeks ago, I like cut the tip of my finger off. And I'm like, it's like you can't wash her hair and you're so annoying. And it's like something so small like that. You, you were, we take advantage of like how good we have. And it's the smallest thing. So point is, is like every day we just live life like.

a wheel. It's like, what's next? What's next? Or we beat ourselves up about this or we're angry about that. And it's like all of that, as we know, can be taken away in a second. And we don't realize how good we have it. And then it's like, obviously, no, you would never wish or want anything bad or traumatic to happen to anybody. But you have such a different set of eyes now and such a different perspective that I think, like I wish we all, I guess what I'm trying to say is I wish we all had that perspective without anything needing to happen. Like just realizing that it doesn't have to be that or we're beautiful the way we are. And of course, work out. It's good for you. Like you said, it makes you feel good. You look good, whatever. But it's so easy to get caught up in perfection

and comparison. And that's not at all what life is about. There is so much power and beauty in connection and in nature and like the real thing. of the world. And yeah, I get my point is just, like, I wish more people knew that and were grateful for that before something happens. And like I said, it made me think of it because when I chopped half my tip of my finger off, I was like, damn it. Like I can't even wash my hair. My fingers on fire. And it's like, it's interesting because that's such a small thing. But it's like, it does, in those moments, even when we have a simple calm and cold, you know, and you're like, stuff you can't do anything. You're miserable. And you're like, damn, like I really,

I took advantage of being healthy. And it's like we don't ever just give ourselves that moment to stop and realize how good we have it. Like to be healthy, to be able to walk and to breathe, you know, and like show up and do what we want and move our limbs. It's crazy. Like, and it takes. But that's also why it's so important to hear a story like yours because I think hearing those stories forces us to stop for a second. Yeah. And to listen and to understand.

and see your perspective and hear it firsthand. Yeah. Because if I think about it, I was actually talking to my husband the other night. And I was like, wow, like, I think about if I woke up the next, like, tomorrow. And it was like, here's your like little body back. Like, I don't even know what I do myself. Like it would be like the most crazy out, like feeling again to be like, wow, I can just like get out of bed and not have to strap on a metal and plastic every single day. like I can just walk or I would probably run my brains out because like I could run no like I

run now but like it's just not the same it doesn't feel the same it's not fun for me like it's it's fun it can hurt yeah I get sores from it and like it can rub my skin off like it's just so different like I'm grateful for it that I can do it now and like I can find joy in it but like it's just nothing to like what it is to do it normal again and I just think like wow I wouldn't even know how to act because it would just be like like like, ha ha. Yeah. But after so long, I would probably, again, take advantage of it because that's just like human nature. And it's like, that's why I do find it so fun to be able to like have this career because it puts it in perspective for people for a little bit. And then if they forget

it again, they can come back to my page and like, hopefully I'm still posting stuff about it, that it's like, oh, back into perspective, like check me. And amazing. Yeah. I don't know. And like back to the physical stuff is like I've had to learn like the physical just like does. doesn't matter. Like you can't base your physical. And like, that's what people do. Like, people care way more about their outward appearance and then their insides. And like, that's honestly, because I used to struggle really badly with self-confidence in my accident. I happened. Like, I had nothing. I thought no one would ever love me again. Like, honestly, that's what I cried about the most in the hospital was no one will ever love me again. Truly, that's like,

I didn't really care about like the leg. Like, it was hard, but I was like, no one's ever going to love me ever like why would anyone pick me when they could have someone that's fully abled with two legs and could be everything that they could ever want and and I genuinely believe that and like over time I was like you know what about like what's on the inside like what if I just worked on that and over time like I genuinely found out what my intentions of my heart and mind were and I was like I am a kind human and I care and I am genuine and like if that doesn't matter then Like, then you're not the one for me. And like, I'm so grateful that I found the man that I did because he loved me for genuinely who I am.

And I don't think, like, some people are like, oh, you need to love yourself before you let someone else love you. But like, I don't know if I fully agree with that, at least in my situation. Because I, like, he's taught me how to like where my self-worth is. And that like my physical looks, like, he thinks I'm beautiful regardless. I could, I could have too. And it wouldn't matter. Like he, it just, he loves me for the way that I am. And I just wish more people would like focus on like what's on the inside of others because like I look around.

I meet people all the time and I'm like, wow, like you're not like, you're beautiful and you're so physically beautiful. But like and then you like get to know them and you're like, well, there's nothing going on the inside. And I'm like, what do you mean? Right. I don't know. It's like that just matters so much. Yeah. It does.

And you don't. Going within allows you to find you like the real you. Like you're in the best, most powerful. thing that you can be is authentic to yourself. And that's like, it's incredible. I think it's incredible here, but then it like, it projects outward. Like, people are, they are drawn to that. Yeah. That's what draws people. Yeah. And I just like, I would rather have someone like as a friend or whatever that it's like, I'm drawn to you. Like, you are just like a light. And rather than, oh, you're beautiful. Like I want to be your friend. Or you're beautiful. I want to be with you. And like,

I just, I think for me that like put in a perspective of. of like, it doesn't matter. Like, I can be beautiful on the outside the way that I am. But then like, that's just like, I have to talk to people and like that matter so much more. And like, I care so much more about that. And that's where I found my confidence in the situation. So like, that's what I always tell people. They're like, I don't know what to do to like help my self-esteem.

And I'm like, work on who you are as a human. Like that will do everything for you because it eventually shows on the outside. You believe it because like everything on here like shows. out here, absolutely. It does. Yeah. I love that. That's incredible.

No, and it's so true. I have two questions for you. One, is it hard for you to see the picture? No. Okay, good. I can look at it. And I'm like, wow, you're like, you're just cool. Like, I'm just like, well, I'm proud of you.

I'm like, I literally, it's the craziest. Like, I'm going to have to. I was, like, I was like, because I usually don't use pictures of my TikTok, but like, you, like, I have to. Yeah. Because it's, like I said, and, like I said. And like you said, it's before all this crazy AI stuff. But it's like you look at that and you're like, how is that real?

And how is there a picture of that? Because it's like we hear these crazy stories, but you don't really get to see them. Yeah. So I think for me, like I look at it. And I'm like, especially if I'm having a hard day, like I'll be like, wow. Like I live through that. Right. Literally.

I did that. Remember who you are. Right. Because like you live through something like that and you still chose to like be happy. and live a fulfilling life. And make a difference. Rather than making it sad, like, the video is sad. I watched it one time, and it was, like, horrendous.

Did that, the woman sent it to you? We had her send it. My dad had it, and I finally watched it, like, after we had it for a little bit. And it's a hard watch. Like, it's, like, not just me up there. Like, it's them taking me off the while. And you can hear me crying and screaming and, like, it's a hard watch. And, yeah, and I, like, somebody would film.

Yeah. And so that one's hard because it's, like, that's what you're here. Like, it almost, it's like a video. It takes you back. So it's like, yeah. Yeah, video is like, that's just so different. But the picture is like, like, I can't believe. Like, you were strong enough to live that.

Like, you can do anything. And so for me, rather than using it as like, poor me, like, I'm like, that is me. Yeah. And then with the prosthetic, are there different? Did you have different options? Because I know my dad, when he was still alive, he had from the knee down amputated. Okay. And I remember I always used to play when you're talking about when they were like, you should touch it.

I always would touch his nub because it was so squishing. Yeah, they're squishy. And everybody who doesn't get it, they won't understand. Like what the fuck? But I'd always squish his nub. Yeah. Because it's like the squishiest thing. My husband does it.

He loves it. Yeah. It's like it's fun. It's fun to squish. But I remember he'd have to put like a sleeve. Yeah. And then it had like a stick kind of thing or like a metal rod and it would go into the, but his was like I think it looked like a leg. Like it was like...

You can get like all different kinds to like make them look like skin color. But I think for me, like I found power and being different. Yeah, I think that's sick. Like I always feel like, which no diss on anyone that does them with a prosthetic leg. Absolutely. Because like I don't know if it's ever like, oh, I want to look normal because some people it's not... Or like maybe a comfort thing?

Like is it like depending on like I wonder fits are different? I think they're all pretty uncomfortable. But like I think most people that it's like they want to look as normal as possible. I'm not completely sure. But for me, like, I'm not going to try to fit in with something that I'm not. And I want to, like, I want to be the way that I am. And so, like, yeah, there's all different kinds. Like, you can get this part up here, like, designs on it.

And I just keep it black. And then, yeah, I have the liner. And there's different ways to suspend it to keep it on. And, like, there's different knees for me. And so I actually just got a new one. And so, like, it has better technology to help me walk. Okay. Right.

So you can, like, fully bend it. everything. Yeah. And then I have a running blade, which is like a hook. It's kind of a big C. Wow. Okay. So that's what you run with. Yeah. I can't run with this one, but like it has, it's a big spring, basically. Yeah. I've seen those before. Sick. That's amazing. And I know you said that can sometimes hurt. Yeah. As far as like the running goes, do you feel like you favor that leg still? Or it's kind of like you just do your thing? I try my best to like, but it's hard. Like even every day to life, I favor this side. Like, this side's definitely going to, like, my mom gets worried about all of them.

She's like, your right side's going to be destroyed by the time you're like 30. And I'm like, but I'm like living my best life right now. Like it might be, yeah, I might need a hip replacement, whatever it is. But like, right. Because naturally, yeah, like I dip when I walk. I try really hard, but you can tell when I'm tired because I'm like, oh, dip in really bad or I think it's this way. But yeah, but I try my best to like keep my body strong. Like that's why I go to the gym is like that helps with like the way that I walk.

in my gate and being able to like carry myself longer. But yeah, there's a lot of things that go into it that I don't think people realize like, I'm pretty sure in order to walk it takes like 70 percent with an above the amputation, it's 70 percent more energy to walk than like a normal person. It's like a mile for you would be 70 percent harder for me to walk that mile. Like it's just crazy. And then how long after everything did you start being able to move your arm more? Yeah. So this is a crazy story actually. My triceps is completely gone. Like I had no triceps. And so they were like, okay, how can we give a

triceps? So they took my bicep and they cut it in half and they split it and they were like, we'll wire that to the triceps. I did it end up taking. So now I only ended up shripling. And so now I have half a bicep. But like, I'm glad they tried. And then they also, my wrist, they made it so my wrist when it bends down my elbow bends. And so like it's all rewired. And so like at first amazing, what they can do. So I thought I was like, okay, so for a while I had to think like, oh, bend your wrist down to bend your elbow. And then, like, I can lift it up, which I don't know if they did anything for that or if that's just like the little bit of, because my shoulder wasn't necessarily, like,

injured, even though it's pretty scrawny. But yeah, I just miss, like, I have most of my muscles missing. And then a year after my accident, they, my, so my fingers used to, my wrist used to be down and my fingers used to not work. I couldn't extend them or anything. And I hated it because I didn't want a floppy wrist and I wanted to be able to use my hand. And so a year later, they went in and they basically like just pulled my muscle up so my wrist cannot go any flatter than that.

Like down. Okay. Nice. So it's just like permanently like that, which doesn't bother me. Gotcha. So it won't go down at all. No, I can't go down because when it does, that's as far as it goes down. That's how my elbow bends. Gotcha.

And then they made it so my thumb could extend. And so they made my middle finger. I have a scar that when I pull my middle finger and my thumb goes up. It's crazy. That's wild. No, but like I said, like if you didn't tell me, like, I wouldn't have thought that at any point your arm was paralyzed. Yeah. Like I would think like, okay, obviously it was injured and it's weak.

But like, no, that's crazy. Yeah, they just like rewired it. And like the doctor that did it, she was telling us how she had one lady had the same exact injury. And they took her to bend her elbow. They connected to her lung. Stop. Yeah. So they connected to her lung.

And every time she'd cough is when her elbow would. But then she ended up getting into like horses and riding horses. And the horse like obviously like when it runs it would like push your air out. Oh gosh. And her arm would like like hit her in the face basically. And I think they ended up having to amputate it because like the doctor is just like, I don't know, it's just crazy like what doctors can do. And then I had another friend.

He was in an accident. He was in an accident like a week after me. Same exact injury. It was like freak accidents. Yeah. And yeah, he wanted to talk to me to like hear about my injury because I got my surgery. immediately. And he was like, oh, yeah, I'm going to California to this really good doctor. And they're going to do it six months after. And I didn't know anything. And so I was like,

I was like, that's super awesome. Like, I really hope the best for you. And then it turned out that, like, the doctor's waited way too long that that muscle had like gone away because there was no movement like, which you can tell, like, mine's just scrawny. And so then therefore the nerves can't grow at anything. He ended up getting no function because of like the lack of muscle. And so I'm just grateful how everything happened. And it's just crazy, like how doctors work. Because like even my main artery that was torn right here, they rebuilt it. And then it started to collapse.

And they like had it inflated again or something. And then it started to collapse again. And when they were like, okay, we need to like keep an eye on that, it ended up totally collapsing. And we had no idea. And so we went into the doctor. And they were like doing an x-ray to like go in and balloon it. And they were like, this is the craziest thing ever. your body remade an artery.

My body, it collapsed the main one that they'd like fixed. And it rebuilt one to like give my body my arm blood again. That is crazy. It like literally makes my eyes water kind of because I'm just like, like, how the fuck? Sorry for my language. Like literally what the hell? Yeah. Like bodies are crazy.

Like people just like don't get your body's like, I'm going to show you girlfriend. Like I got this. Yeah. The doctors are like, so it rebuilt its own. Yeah. And I was just like, okay. Like your body just like figures it out. That's crazy.

It's amazing. Yeah. It's, I know whenever I see too, like any type of, I don't really watch them often, but like any type of surgery video, I'm like, how do they know? Like there's so many things in there. Like how do they know what they're doing? It's crazy. Yeah.

Crazy. Oh my gosh. But no, you're like I said, your story's amazing. I've heard it. I heard it. I want to say because I reached out more recently. Yeah. But I have heard of, like I had heard of your story before.

Yeah. And I've had people that were like, you need to go on this podcast. And I was always like, yeah. Yeah, I've heard of your story before. And I even want to say I had seen the photo. Because it wasn't like, I was like, I've seen this before. There's two stories. There was another one.

I don't, this was a long time ago. But it's like things like this that stick with you. I think it was a girl. I don't know. Something also crazy where it's like you were meant to survive. I think she got it. an accident, shock trauma came, went to fly her up, and then something happened with the helicopter. Helicopter crashed down and she still survived it.

What? Swear. Something like bizarre. And that was like one of the other ones I heard of. That was like a long time ago. I just remember hearing it. I'm going to have to look it up. And then yours, I mean, maybe I, like, honestly, maybe years ago, like prior to any of this, I'm sure maybe I stumbled across something.

Yeah. And I think most people like, it's funny. because I had this one experience. We were at this, like, it was in, it was a few hours from where I was from. And this couple was like, oh, where are you from? And I was like, oh, deck low, burly area. And they're like, oh, the only thing we know there is like this girl. And they started, like, telling me my story.

And I was wearing a dress like you can't tell you couldn't see my leg, nothing. And they like start riffing off. Like basically everything that happened. And I just let them. Like they were like, and I was like, oh, that's crazy. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. And they were like, so do you know her? And I was like, I am hurt because like no one knows like, right.

Like I think people forget my face. But then as soon as I like say like, oh, this is me. Like even the other night, we were in the hot tub. And these people were and they were like, oh yeah. Like if this is or like if you ever saw the story and they're like, yeah, that was you. Like that happens all the time. Like I think so many people know the story. They just don't necessarily know the face. And it's, it's, can't say enough, but it's insane. It's crazy. I love, love, love when people take their stories and turn them into something that's empowering for them and other people. And I am such, I mean, it's so funny because now that, you know, once you get older, you realize the importance of the assemblies that we talked about and people speaking out. And I'm so glad that you've seen that that makes a difference because even if it's just one child, that could be saving someone's life. And it's, I wish it affected, like, when I was younger.

Like, I just, I wish that I took those things more serious. Because it's like, when we're that age, we don't even really, like, we have empathy, but we don't. We don't, like, really get it. And I just wish that, I wish and I hope that every time you go and you share, like, everybody gets it. You have everybody's attention. And people take it seriously because it is so serious. you know, the reason why people speak out about their stories is to make a difference and to spread

awareness and to make change and empower and obviously so many other things, just even creating a safe place for people to feel like they can listen and feel and not feel so alone. And you should never, I tell people all the time too, you know, no matter how many times you tell your story, never allow yourself to get too used to it because every time you do it, it's just as powerful as the first time. Like it's, it is. And it's something to be so different every time. Like different things come out.

Like every pod of your house that I've done, I've definitely liked others more than others. But like there's always something different about it or like a different, something that comes to you that you're like, I need to share this. And something in my speaking events, it's like that. Like I don't share that. But like for some reason that came out. Right. And it's like, yeah, sometimes it feels repetitive to you. And it feels like, oh, I've done this a million times.

But like it always matters. Like, somehow. People love to hear it. Literally. And that's like why people will ask me when, like what I was seen before, when they're like about the direction to go in and if there's anything they shouldn't include, I'm like, or they'll kind of be on the fence about something. And I always encourage people. I'm like, just wing it. Go with the flow because sometimes things will come up or I'll ask something that seems simple, but it might strike something, you know, that'll make you remember like, oh, that's like,

if she wants to know that part, like I never talked about that before. And I'm like, and that's what I love. That's kind of why I go into them all blindly because, like, my friends will ask me, like, who are you filming today? And I'm like, I only know this gist of it. And I love it that way because I feel like it keeps it very natural and authentic. And it allows you to just take it wherever you feel like you want to take it for that day. And like you said, that's always changing. You know, and you might feel more pulled or called to speak a one thing or pulled in a different direction. And that's kind of the beauty of it. And, you know, you're always growing and evolving and changing. And your story is always growing and evolving and changing. So you can always, you know,

help other people in other ways and spread more awareness and I love it. You're amazing at it. It's seriously, it's incredible and you are definitely, without a doubt, meant to be here. Yeah. For sure. Yeah, we actually had an Uber driver this week

and he was like, you're here for a reason, not a season, not a season, girl. It's so true. Literally. I never I've never thought before, but I love it.