WHOA That's Good Podcast - Life After the Shark Attack & Why I'm Choosing Joy | Sadie Robertson Huff & Lulu Gribbin

Episode Date: January 21, 2026

Sadie welcomes Lulu Gribbin, her mom Ann Blair, and Lulu’s twin sister Ellie into the studio to share the story of the day that changed Lulu’s life forever—a shark attack that could have ended it all. Lulu opens up about that terrifying moment and how, even in the midst of shock and tragedy, she saw God working in her life. Losing two-thirds of her blood on the beach, the doctors said she shouldn’t be here. Yet today, Lulu chooses joy, points people to God, and inspires others with her incredible resilience. Since the attack in 2024, she’s returned to the very beach where it happened—and the first time she got back on her surfboard, a funny joke reminded her why sometimes laughter truly is the best medicine. And looking to the future, Lulu has her sights set on the Paralympics!  Hear more about her journey and her foundation, Lulu Strong, here: https://lulustrong.com/ This Episode of WHOA That's Good is Sponsored By: https://nutrafol.com — Get $10 off your first month’s subscription and free shipping when you use promo code WHOA at checkout! https://preborn.com/sadie — Donate today. For just $28, you can help a mother in need meet her baby for the very first time. https://fastgrowingtrees.com/whoa — Get 20% off your next purchase with code WHOA at checkout! - Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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on the podcast that I am thrilled to have. They are the cutest girl. ever so much fun with an incredible story we have lulu ellie and anne blair griven all on the podcast so welcome ladies thank you for having us we've been living up louisiana haven't we yeah it's been awesome these girls are foodies too i just want everyone to know because we went to parish last night and parish is like our local restaurant here and these girls ordered the oysters we tried dog duck raps we were like straight up so good we'll scent it and we had tuna I was impressed by like y'all ordering such big things for such little people. It was very impressive.

But I'm so glad y'all are here. Today is going to be so much fun. I've been looking forward to this for a really long time. First question I ask everybody who comes on the podcast, so we're going to go down the line, is what's the best piece of advice you've ever been given, Lulu? So the best piece of advice I've ever been given is from my mom. Hey, shout out. Uh-huh.

Shout out. And it's what you look like does not define you. It's who you are on the inside that defines who you are. And this is a very crucial piece of advice for me, especially on the hospital because I was struggling with my identity and because I had just lost my leg and my arm and I was struggling like, am I going to be the weird girl? Like, are people still going to like me? Am I going to have friends?

And then she told me that and it kind of just rested in my mind and I just have stuck with it throughout my whole journey. That's so cool. And you can tell you didn't just stick with it. Like you walked in so much confidence. And now like looking back, I bet it's wild to think about those thoughts. There's a very real thoughts. But to think, like, am I going to have friends? Am I going to be a war girl? And now, year later, you're like thriving. It seems like your friendships are thriving. People adore you and love you. I've seen you modeling swimsuits and new clothing lines. And it's just really cool to see you take that advice and really take it to heart. So that's incredible. I love that girl. What about you and Blair? I think the best advice my dad ever gave me is always ask for what you want. And if it's a no, then you aren't any worse off than you were before. And it may be a no right now, no for right now, but it may be a yes later. And so always ask whether it's for, on behalf of your friends, yourself, your family, just advocate for each other and always ask.

You know what? That's so cool to hear you say that, because typically, you do, when people say their best fees of advice, you can see that bleed through their whole life. And this morning, whenever I was just like looking up all the stuff y'all have done, I'm looking at the foundation that you guys started and how y'all, the Lulu's Law thing that y'all have gotten passed. And like, y'all, you guys have, like, put in some work and gotten some stuff done. But a lot of that probably comes from you and your heart to advocate for your daughter for on behalf of other people. So it's really cool to know, like, your dad spoke that over you and to see how seriously you've taken it in life is amazing.

Yeah, because you're not going to be any worse off than where you are right now. That's right. That's good. All right, Ellie, hit us. Mine kind of starts not, well, it starts with a story kind of. So every year we go to camp for three weeks and we get letters written by our parents, but this letter by my grandmother, she writes us a letter like every day and she draws a sunshine and it says, let your light shine.

And so that's kind of just stuck with me. Just like be confident and be yourself older. a time because you're just helping other people. Like, you never know what other people are going through. So just smile always. That's great. Do you want me to read your verse? Yes. I love it. So we're going to Matthew 5, which I think we're going to Matthew 5. Are we going verse 16? That's literally our family verse. Yeah. In the same way, let your light shine before others so that they may see your good works and give glory to your father who is in heaven. That literally is our family verse. My mom, has like, she has a pretty much anything she does.

She like puts like a lighthouse on it to like remind us like weird light of the world. So that is so cool. I was going to say this to the end, but I'm going to say it now, now that we're already reading scripture. So this morning I was listening to a sermon and it was such a good sermon.

It was about like walking in the spirit. And it was from Ephesians 5 verse 20. But I'm going to back it up to verse 18 is what he was talking about. And this is going to sound so random to bring up, but hang with me. It says, and do not get drunk with wine, for that is debauchery, but be filled with the spirit, addressing one another in Psalms Him, spiritual songs, singing, making melody to lower with your heart, giving thanks always for everything to God, the Father, in the name of Jesus Christ, our Lord. And the whole thing he was talking about, he's like, why did they compare, you know,

getting drunk with wine to being filled with the spirit? He's like, why did the writer, like, say that or even bring that up? And he was saying because there actually are some similarities from the outside. When someone is drunk, they're more bold, more confident, seem to have joy, seem to be laughing. But it's based on something that's empty, that's temporary, that's fleeting. But when you're filled with the spirit, you have that same sense of like boldness that doesn't make any sense. Confidence that's like unheard of joy that doesn't, you're like, how are you so happy? But yeah, it's rooted in something that's so true. and he said, he goes down to verse 20, comparing that and says, giving thanks always and for everything. And he says, how could someone truly give thanks to God always and for everything? How could someone really have a smile in their face in every situation for everything? Only if they're filled with the spirit and only if they're in Jesus. And he gave the example of how when the night gets darker, the star shine brighter.

And he said, most people, when life gets harder, you don't shine. brighter, but those who are filled with the spirit do. And when he was talking about that, this whole morning, I was like, man, that is your family. Like, that is so you, Lulu. That is so you. That is so you. And Blair. Like, when life got dark, y'all shined brighter. And when you look at you and you go, man, like, that has to be so hard. But then I had dinner with you last night and we laughed at our heads off. And we're like, you're like, you're so funny and you're so cute. And we'll be talking. And then you're like, I love your hair. And I'm like, thank you. Like, they're just like so filled with joy and so filled with the spirit. It even made me laugh whenever you said,

how'd you in Christian meet? And I said 38 and you said, everything happens in 38. And I was like, girl, you're funny. I was like, okay, you're laughing. But that's the joy of the Lord that's like so your strength and your whole family strength. And so I just wanted to preface this podcast by saying, I'm so excited that you're going to tell your story. I'm so excited to hear from all of you and talk about life. But that's the kind of people of these people, And I just want to say that because as you're listening to this, you might be like, how can a family have so much joy and have faced such hardship or such a, you know, hard situation?

But these people love God. They love Jesus. And that's that bottom half of that verse where it says, have thanks always and everything to God, the Father, in the name of Jesus Christ. And that's because I know your faith is strong. So I'm excited to dive into everything. But before we do, you guys are high schoolers. Like, y'all are straight up.

high school right now, junior. So tell us a little bit about what's a date and the live look like for Lulu and Ellie. It's definitely not a normal teenage girl lifestyle. We'll have days. I can't remember the last time I went to a full week of school because I will be traveling for speaking engagements, for podcasts, for like being on the news. I have had a lot of press with my foundation being launched. So I'll leave school and go, like, just be on the media. But typically, we'll go to school the whole day. I have PT once a week, golf once a week. And so I'm trying to just live my normal lifestyle.

Like, when everyone asks me, like, how am I, like, so determined? And I'm just living. Like, I'm just trying to be my normal self. And obviously, it's going to look a little different because there's a new spotlight on me. And I have to live differently to be able to be fulfilled. but I'm just trying to be myself and do the things that I love. And whether that has a spotlight or it doesn't, being more active, just trying to regain everything that we've lost.

And then like you said earlier, we've passed Lulu's Law on the state of Alabama. And so that was awesome. And just a lot of press from my foundation has been fun right now. So cool. And I love public speaking and sharing my story and inspiring others. It's been so fun to see you. like on social media just following along. I'm like, okay, there she is crushing it in golf.

And then she's speaking at motion and like you're just doing so many amazing things. Like your determination is so inspiring. Ellie, what's life look like for you right now? Are you fully in school? Are you traveling with your mom? Mainly fully in school. Lulu probably travels a lot more than me, but I do travel with her. So I was like in the morning, I wake up. We have Bible studies three, four times out of the five days a week. So go do that and go to school, pick up my civil. run errands for the family. She runs lots of air driving around.

I can have an ACT tutoring here and there. Let's go, girl, getting that score up. That's what I'm trying. I work on my church on Wednesdays, but just doing everything I can to help the family out. That's awesome. That's amazing. So, y'all are identical twins. Identical.

Have they always been super close from your opinion? Oh, yeah, always. Super close, but very competitive. Yep. I can see that. That's awesome. This year, I've been focused on taking care of myself in small, consistent ways that are sustainable, and one of those things for me is Nutrafall. It's less like a resolution and more

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Again, that's NutraFol.com, promo code whoa. Okay, so let's tell everybody, because for those who don't know your story, they're sitting here, like, foundation, what? They've heard, like, you're crushing it, but like, what, what's the story here? And so let's take it back. Just, at like the listener has never heard your story, and I just want us to kind of go there. And I just want to say, too, last night I asked you, if you already. sharing your story. And I just thought, man, God made you so unique. And God made you, I don't want to say, like, because we talked about this, like, why would he allow this to happen? And I love how you said

for a little while, it was like, why me? But then it was like, why not me? And I love your willingness to share your story. And so I'm so thankful. And for you too, and Blair and Ellie to be like, let's talk about it. And so Ellie said, Ellie's face is like, I'm not sure. But you guys were going on a vacation, mom and daughter trip, and tell us a little bit about the day. We were on a mother daughter trip in Florida and Inlet Beach last June of 2024. And this was really like the first time we had ever like done this kind of trip. And we were, we had been there for like two nights or something and it was the third night or third day. You grew up going to the beach though, just your first time to do a mother or daughter. Yes, we grew up going to the beach. Just like different kind.

Yeah, yeah. Anyways. So we were in the water just diving for sand dollars, and then we were riding the waves in. And we were all just like body surfing and just like having fun, like diving, like, and stuff. We were waist deep. And all of a sudden, my best friend screamed shark. And so I turned around. And I didn't see like its head or its tail or fin or whatever, but I saw its big shadow. And so we all just like were swimming for our lives.

We didn't know what would happen. We didn't know what to expect. But in my head I was like, oh, we all need to calm down. Because I was thinking of like what people do in movies. And like they stay calm to make sure like the shark doesn't come after them to like, I don't know. They're not like a fish in the water. And so I was like, I yelled everyone stay calm. And I was the farthest back because I was like the only one that really stayed calm.

Ellie and our other friend were already at the shore. And then there were a few other girls in the water. But I knew something was off. And so I raised my hand out of the water and there was just nothing there. There was, it was just flesh and bone, and I remember just being, like, shocked. Like, I didn't feel the shark bite it. And I made eye contact with one of my best friends who was still in the water and tried to call for help. No words came out.

And so I was like, all right, she can't come help me. So I, like, looked around. And then there was this other man who came and, like, I just jumped into his arms. But he let go. And so I got really scared. And then there was this other man. And I was going into his arms while the other guy was punching the shark off of me, which wow, I could never do that.

And then I blacked out in the water, and I woke up on the shore. Ellie was there. There were strangers, and I leaned forward, and I saw my right legs, toes. And I remember seeing the nail polish. I saw a little bit of the wound, but they pushed me back down, so I wouldn't see it. And then, like, they had tourniquet in my arm. They turned a kid in my leg. And it was, I kind of remember, I didn't feel like anything, basically, but, like, it was a slight pain.

not very drastic of what you would think. And then paramedics came. They gave me IVs for like fluids and stuff and an auction mask. But the whole time I didn't use the auction mask because I was so hot. And I would, so I would just hold it right like next to me. And then they loaded me into a truck and a stretcher. And then they put me into this tart bag. And they carried me up flights of stairs and into the ambulance.

And so when I was in an ambulance, I, like, felt safe because it was, like, cold air. And I was like, all right, this is all going to be fine. And the paramedic asked me what my name was. And I mumbled out Lulu, but he thought I said Lucy. And so then I said Lulu again. And I was like, he heard me and he told me that everything was going to be all right. And then, like, looking back at it now, like, in that moment, I had no idea. But looking back at it now, that was literally just, like, God's peace.

Wow. And so like the whole time, like my recovery, I've just had peace of like, it's going to be all right. It might be a little different, but you just have to fight. And so I had that mentality of everything's going to be fine. You just have to do your best to get by. And I woke up in the next day, intubated, and they decided to amputate my leg. But the next morning I was extubated. And the first words I said was I made it.

And then we transferred to Charlotte for a specialized hand surgeon, and they did specific surgeries on me for, like, pain and to be able to control my phantom limbs and my brain. And it was a lot of cool technology that they had developed, and they had like this virtual reality headset, which was awesome. It helped me a lot. But in Charlotte, we spent like three months there because we did inpatient therapy there, which was an awesome decision. And I re-learned how to like put up my hair, how to put on clothes, brush my teeth. Because I was in a bed for so long. And I like didn't know how to do any of it because I only had one hand now. And so it's stuff you never think twice about.

And then I actually relearned how to walk in the hospital with my doctors. It was awesome. You're incredible. Even just to like tell that story and so much detail, like you remember your nail polish and you remember the oxygen. The whole time, like when the shark bit my leg, I didn't feel any pain. Just, I think that was my weight. Like, I was in so much shock and, like, God was just there. Like, I don't need to feel the pain.

Yeah. And then, like, I didn't need the option mask because he was putting the breath in my lungs. And so it was really just, like, everything, like, all the people on the beach, they were there because they were God's angels. And so everything worked out so perfectly. And I was just grateful to be alive and that saved. Girl, now I'm the one cry. You said you needed tissues.

I needed tissues. Oh my gosh. That was like so beautiful. Something you said last night really stuck out to me. And I was thinking about it this morning. You said that you wish you could remember more of it. You were like everybody else has helped fill in my memory because they remember it. I wish I could remember it more.

And I thought that's such an interesting perspective because a lot of times when people go through things, they wish to forget it. but you wish to remember it. And what you just said put context as to why. And that's what makes me cry because you're like, because God was so there, because he was my breath and because angels were around me. So like your perspective is I would have seen God more, you know, and you did see God like so much. Like your perspective is just so incredible.

I want to ask because I brought up the quote that you said, why not me? when did that kind of flip in your brain? Like, were you asking, why me? And then it flipped, and how did that happen? I woke up one night in Charlotte, and I was just, I couldn't stop thinking, like, why do I have to go through this? Like, I have such a long road ahead of me, like, why me? And so I was just crying, like, silently in my bed, and finally, because mom was in the room, and I, like, didn't want to wake her up.

And then I just finally yelled. I was like, Mom! And I was like, why me? mom like why do I like why me and so she just kind of like held my hand she told me the advice that I shared earlier and then we also I can't I think it was this night but we put this Bible verse on my hospital bed and it's mark 10 27 and it's with God nothing is impossible and so I whenever I was like in pain like when I was getting a shot in my stomach or like they're doing ultrasounds or whatever I would just look over and read that Bible verse and all the pain would go away and I would just feel confident.

And so, like, why not let God use me and to share his amazing gospel and to just glorify him? Wow. This is beautiful. This is incredible. Friends, I want to share something that is really heavy on my heart. So new research is showing that millions of women carry deep, lasting emotional, pain after an abortion. And my friends at pre-born see this truth firsthand every single day. But women in impossible situations who are hurting, overwhelmed, and unsure where to turn or finding hope at pre-born network clinics. And it all starts with just one powerful encounter. So when a woman sees her baby on an ultrasound, everything changes. In that moment, her baby's

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then join us today. A sponsor in ultrasound, Preborn was honored with the 2025 Shining Light Award for financial integrity. So you can give it with confidence. To donate, dial pound 250 and say baby. That's pound 25. say baby or visit preborn.com slash sadie again that's preborn.com slash sadie when I was laying down and I saw the wound. You thought her leg was still there. I saw like the wound like um like my calf and so I thought like the whole time the shark had bit my calf and so I thought I had my knee when I woke up

like I knew that they had amputated it but the whole like for the whole first week while we were in Pensacola I thought it was like below the knee and then like they didn't tell me until we got to Charlotte. I know it was like above the knee, right? Wow. You thought your leg was still there. Yeah. Wow. That's the craziest thing because I'd heard I'd read that before. Like when people get bit bad as sharp, they don't actually feel it. Because you're in so much shock. He's in so much shock. But that is wild. That is a wild experience. So when was, how many days was that until you found that out? Like days. I think day five when we were transferring to Charlotte maybe. Do you remember? Well, I remember after your surgery, so I like stayed up all night, like, that night.

And like, she woke up and, like, held my hand. And then she said, she, like, motioned with scissors. And she motioned with scissors. And I was like, I had to, I had to, so then she knew that night. But I don't think she knew where it was. But the cool thing about that night was, I mean, yes, I told her, she had her leg amputated. but we have in our family we say one four three which means I love you and so she said one four three with her hands that I couldn't talk because I was intubated so I was like I love you

and so I was like very emotional wow I heard I mean I think I read this um I'm not sure where I heard it or maybe you shared it last night but you mentioned she got bit in the thigh and wasn't there like an artery or something that yeah So the shark had bit my femoral artery. And when that is cut or clipped or whatever, severed. But when that's even like just like scratch or something, you can bleed out in under a minute. And it was such a blessing to have, was Dr. Forbis? He is like this big doctor guy and he literally just held the artery with his hand.

Very muscular. On the beach, he was there and he saw that. Yes. Oh my gosh. I don't even like. Such a godsend. So that's what you mean about. They were literally angels all around you.

Oh my God, literal. Like there was, like the tourniquets they used, like there, it wasn't just like happened to be around. Like it was obviously in the right spot. Like they used like cooler. Cookyboard string. Yeah. Someone's story was like a wife and a husband and the wife just like went to the husband's bathing suit and just ripped the string out. I told you like I read everything.

I went deep whenever this. happened and was like reading all of your Cambridge. I was reading other people's posts. And I remember reading the nurse, which I brought up last night. Okay, do you all remember the dream she had the night before? That was crazy. So she came and visited us in Charlotte

and she and her sister who were at the beach that day and she told us that story. And she thought it was her younger sister who was being bit by a shark. She said she had this weird dream the night before. Yeah, for context, tell that story. So the night before she had a dream.

that her younger sister was getting bit by a shark? Yes, the night before she had had a dream. They were on like a bachelorette party for her sister getting married, or maybe it was her sister-in-law. I can't remember which one, but she had had this dream about being at the beach and that something like a shark attack happened and she had the dream that it was her sister or sister-in-law

and that she needed to do something to save her. And it wasn't her sister, it was Lulu. And she, so when we talk about angels on the beach, So there were doctors, there were nurses, there were just so many people that were put in that spot. So it was God saved her and had all the people in the right place that needed to be there for her. She lost two thirds of her blood. And like literally she should not be alive. Like there's like if medically you say that, there's no way she should be alive.

True miracle. It's like, you know, the verse, faith is like the comments and the things that you hope for and the assurance of the things you cannot see. I was, 11-1. I was thinking about your situation where you look at that and some people go, why would God let that happen? And we can't answer all those like why questions, but it's so evident that God was there and that

he was so for you. He gave people dreams. There were doctors there. There were someone who knew to hold that artery. And it's like there's a faith aspect in it. And it's like we're not going to ever understand it all. we can't really, you know, know for certain where he was and what his plan was, but you know he was there and it's undeniable.

So to me it wasn't, I mean, yes, there's always questions, but looking back, it's, you know, why did God do this to me? It wasn't God doing anything to her. It was God saving her. That's right. Come on. That's beautiful. It's beautiful.

I just love y'all's family so much. Ellie, tell us a little bit from you as a twin sister, just being there for your, sister. What's interesting, this podcast, so Wednesdays, we call it, well, that's good, but on Mondays, we call it Sisters and Friends, and they're the same podcast, they're just on a different day, but so much of the heart of L.O. is to be a sister and a friend. And when I look at you all, like, you guys are the epitome of, like, sisterhood and friendship of what, like, that should look like. And you guys literally went through this together. I mean, you were there that day and with her, and I know you're helping study your mom. So tell us a little bit of,

bit about what God was doing in your heart. Give me no. Give me no. When I was there, I was obviously out of the water before Lulu, so I kind of just watched it play out from the shore. And then when she got to the shore, I kind of was the only person there because all of our friends, like, dispersed. I don't know where they went.

But one of our other friends also got bit on her ankle. So her sister was with her. But I was just there for Lulu. I was holding her head because she was still. sort of in the water, so the waves were still, like, crashing on her. So I was just holding her head out of the water, and then I was holding her other hand. And then there was, like, I want to say six or seven, but I don't want to say it. But that's how many you tried to avoid six.

That's how many I think nurses and doctors and just people were there. I was the only person I think Lula knew there. Our mom never really went up to Lulu because when our mom got there, she was already blacked out. But when she got there, I was just like held mom, and I was like, it's going to be okay. And she was like, no, it's not. I was like, it's going to be okay. But it was quite the scene. And we were just on the way to a hospital that we didn't even know what hospital we were.

And I was like updating. Like, I had to call my dad and tell him. and he was like, what? And I was just like, I literally probably said like five words. I was like, come now. Like, you might not see her again. I love you, bye. But he ended up getting on a plane with our mom's best friend.

But during that whole call ride, it was kind of just like praying on repeat and texting friends to keep. I had one friend that I would text and she kind of kept everyone else updated. We called our priests and just like our family members. I remember talking to my grandmother and being like she's never going to play volleyball again. I knew her leg was gone, but like I didn't want to admit it. And then you guys, because that's so much to go through together, but I know you guys went back to 38. I don't know when you guys went back, but when did y'all go back and sit on the stand together?

That was the Ophelia trip. Yeah, that's when they stayed at. Wow, I didn't realize that was that trip. So it's kind of small world. My, so Christian's cousin, Blakely, for those who are listening, they, I know Blakely's awesome. They, you know, have a place down in 30A, and they also work with Ophelia and we're running their socials, and I know you guys teamed up with them. And so it's crazy. Like, our worlds have kind of began to collide in these, like, beautiful way.

But I didn't realize it was that trip. you all. Tell us a little bit about what that was like going back together. And because I feel like I've heard a quote before. It's really helped me. It says God reveals things to redeem things. So like when you go back to a situation that's like mimicking something really hard you walk through, he normally brings you back, not to bring you back to the trauma and the pain of it, but to like redeem the trauma and the pain of it was that redeeming for you all to go back to you? I guess just like healing too. It's actually because going back with all. of our friends and because most of our friends were at the beach when all everything went down

it was definitely awesome and we got to go with mom and it was dad dad yeah it was very freeing and tea dog yeah and tea dog on the last day i remember like just i we went back to the exact spot it happened right we were like leaving on the way out in our cars and we were just like leaving on the way out in our cars and we just like drove probably 10 miles down the beach and like went to sandy shores, which is where we stayed. And we just went in the public parking area and like tried to find which boardwalk it was and like went to the exact spot, like where the public people were sitting. We went to the right of them and we just like stood and all took it in. And I like just, I wanted to like just lay in the sand and just like re like on it doesn't like, like, like obviously it's traumatizing

but it doesn't traumatize me. I just wanted that feeling again. And I, like, forced Ellie to, like, hold my head and, like, just hold my hand. And it was very emotional, but it was also, like, gave us such a sense of freedom and relief. And it was just an awesome day. Wow. It reminds me so much of, like, even in that ceremony I was listening to, something like, the gospel is, like, bringing, like, death to life.

and it's like you wanted to relive that experience of like being very close to death but like being resurrected to life and like you all came back and you're holding her head and you're in her hand as like a sign of like victory like you made it like you did you made it you made it you made it it's like you made it for sure yeah of life okay real talk fam you don't need a huge yard a greenhouse or landscaping crew to have beautiful plants in your life whether you're you're in a dorm room, a tiny apartment, or your first house, plants instantly make a space feel at home. That's why I have been loving fast-growing trees. They are actually the largest online nursery in the country, which means they have over 1,600 unique options for literally every

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Offer is valid for a limited time. Terms and conditions may apply. Check out the link below or in the show notes and support the show. So I want to talk to you because I know you weren't with them in that moment, but then you came to them. I know it was really wild, but I've heard you say in the car ride, you kept just saying like breathe, breathe, breathe. What is like, I guess what has that done for your prayer life since? Just seeing what God did in that moment. You're telling her to breathe and not to hear her say, God was giving me breath in my lungs. Like, has that, what does that mean to you? Well, I mean, the whole car ride, how many times did we say over and over, God, please let her breathe. What? And the whole time she was like hypervitaling, so it was like, please breathe. I was like, leave her. I was like, leave her to keep you humble.

I know. But knowing just like what we saw, like I can still see it on the beach, like see her there and like the leg and like knowing what I know that she shouldn't be. hear the power of prayers. Very real. And the prayers that all of our community had. So Ellie mentioned that like our ministered our church, he prayed over us in the car. At our church in Birmingham, they all gathered while she was in surgery. Just the power of prayers very real. So cool. Okay. So y'all are those people though that you don't just like get through something. You like power through and then make something good out of it. I've heard that you've said you want to be in the Paralympics.

Y'all are like going for big dreams, big things, starting foundations. You know, there's obviously a time where I'm sure it felt like what is my life going to look like now. Like you said, you're grieving. Like I'm not going to be able to play volleyball again. I'm not going to be able. When did that shift happen from me of like, okay, I'm not going to get my life back the way it was, but my life could be actually really good going forward?

Do you remember that kind of shift in your brain where you started dreaming forward? For me, it was like in the hospital when I was like just like crying and then it was like it hit And I was like, okay, like this isn't what I can't. It's not what I can't do. It's what I can do. And like mom says it all the time. It's not a disability. It's an ability. And so I've been given opportunities through the loss that I've had. And I've always grown up competitive playing sports. And so in the hospital like my doctors were like because normally it takes much. to receive prosthetics and then to learn on the walk them. And I was like, nope, I'm going to learn. I'm going to walk out of the hospital and you will see it with your own eyes of me walking out of the hospital and I will make this happen. And they were like, okay, I'd love to see that happen.

And me and my physical therapist and occupational therapist, we made it happen. And lots of hard work goes into it and just like the mindset of you can do it because obviously it's hard. And there's a lot of mental blocks of like just relearning how to walk on a piece of of metal, but I was just so focused and so determined, and I did it. And I feel like that's how everything is. It's like, you can do whatever you put your mind to. And because if you fall, God's always there to pick you up. And like even though like your life changes and your like life throws curbles at us, it doesn't matter because God stays the same yesterday, today, and tomorrow and

forever. And I love that verse. And it's just he is a constant. He is constant. And so if you want to get something done, you will. If you are willing to get it done. It's awesome. And I would say also, I think there's two pieces to that as well. When we were in inpatient rehab, like on that floor, there were head injuries. There were people who would never be able to walk that didn't have, like, control. And so we saw like people that were worse off

than where we thought we were so it kind of put it in perspective of like I still have a sound mind. Like I may be missing an arm and a leg but my she is still there. She's her same personality regardless of what she looks like.

And so with that I think also Lulu's journey has been like an anomaly from a amputee perspective and so it was it's kind of unfair for other amputees that go through it. So our mission really is to help other amputees have the same experience that she got to experience because most people don't. Well, so that's what

the foundation is to help others. That's like kind of how the foundation evolved. Yes. I like, I had this virtual reality headset. It eliminated like all of the pain in my arm. Wow. And it helped me to control my prosthetic arm. And I got my prosthetics just two months after the accident. Normally it can take up to a whole year. And so, yeah, it is an anomaly that I got all of this, like, cool technology and not everyone gets that right when their accident happens. And so our goal is to just fundraise that research and make it possible for other amputees. Also, how do people give? Is there your website? Yeah, there's lulowstrong.com. Okay. And there's a donate now button. But I think. And merch. Well, that's good listeners. If you're not going there right now,

there's some wrong with you. But it truly was seeing like, you know, this does not define you. It's what we do with it. Like you ask why God. Well, God did it for her to do something bigger with it. And it's turning, even though it is a bad circumstance, there's so much good that comes from it. And you just have to, it's a choice that we get to make.

And we, like, we get the choice every single day of waking up with a smile and waking up with joy. And so you just have to make that choice to just. Because you could go the other way. I mean, a lot of people could go the opposite way. Yes. And that's not really how we operate because, like, that would be miserable. That's why I was saying, like, I love your family. Y'all are so, like, down to earth.

Y'all love God. And what you said last night, my mom always says this. My mom's like, because people ask my mom, like, how did your kids not go crazy? Just, you know, having a reality TV show at such a young age and all. And a lot of families do go that route. And everybody, you know, moves away and. loses their mind and all that kind of stuff.

And my mom was like, even though our life changed circumstantially, like, the things that matter stay the same. And my mom was like, that's the key. Like, that's grounding. Like, our family stayed the same. We live in the same place. We're going to church on Sunday. Like, we didn't, it didn't change the things that really matter to us and our priorities.

And that was so how, like, you and your husband kept it afloat. I mean, your village. You're talking about your church rallying. Talking about your little brother keeping you humble last night. Your little brother was like, get up and get your life. water and you're like, dude, I don't have leg. Y'all are just like real. And I love how you said, like, you could act the other way.

We talked about this last night. You were like, people kind of like have to be nice to be like, no, no, not every. Like people have accidents all the time and this doesn't happen to their life. You know, you, God, like, made you so wonderful. When he knit you together and your mother's womb, he knew the kind of person you were going to be and how you were going to handle a situation like this. not everybody looks at a doctor and says, I'm going to walk out of here and you're going to see it with your own eyes. You know, not everybody talks about God being faithful yesterday, day, and forever.

Not everybody is a sister like you that says, hey, this was traumatizing, but I'm going to go back down to the beach and I'm going to hold your head because this is how we're going to heal together. Like, you guys have taken each step and leaned in to God instead of, like, ran away. And that's why y'all have, like, so much joy. and it's incredible. It really is. I want to ask you, because at L.O. Conference this year, there's,

I actually, yeah, there's a picture. If there's not a picture, it's burned in my memory forever because I cried seeing it. I know. You and Michaela. No,

holding hands and worshiping, standing right beside each other. Michaela, for those who don't know, she's been on before, but she was paralyzed by a cheerleading accident. She was doing a flip, and it didn't go well. and she's paralyzed.

She was a very competitive cheerleader, a beautiful girl, and she's similar to you and that she's so determined and that she loves the Lord and she's using her platform for so much good. But y'all didn't know each other

before a conference, huh? So we had connected through social media because once you're like, get in that world, it's just like this own world of like everyone knows everyone. And so we had connected and we had just like chatted

over social media. And I had no idea that she was going to be at conference. And then when we got there, we met her and I was just like, star struck because she's like this awesome cool social media influencer and I was like no way and so I met her and it was just awesome like she is so filled with the spirit and I think it's so important to like they're like have that inclusion I guess because they're so hard to like get focused on like

the regular everyday people and then there's just us and Michaela and so I think it was so awesome just uniting and just showing that we can like be here. We can worship the Lord even though we have a disability and we got to hold hands and it was just very powerful and such a like emotional and moving night. And then Lauren Daigle spoke about like my friend Blakely who just lost her arm and then this other girl who got paralyzed and it like hit us hard because like we had gone through it. And it was like all just like moment after moment after moment of just like God being with us. And it was just incredible, like, getting to meet her. And, like, now we, like, text each other all the time.

And we're just, like, friends. And it's, like, so fun and so uplifting. That's so cool. That's one thing that's been cool about y'all's story, too, is you talked about Kennedy and Bethany Hamilton, Lauren, Kennedy, Allie. I don't know her last name, Truitt, several different people.

And you said how the world gets kind of small. I feel like that is, like, the beauty of the body of Christ, the beauty of the church, like, when it comes to community. what is that meant to you just having other people that have gone through it? How has it helped all of you guys? I'm sure it's helped everybody. 2026 is here, y'all, and this is a year to get started on those ideas you've been carrying around. It's time to start making your dreams a reality.

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went this past year, and Lulu went last year to her retreat called a beautifully flawed retreat, and it's a retreat for limb different girls so that you can like be around other people that are like you. And so I think that was very helpful for Lulu. I don't know if you want to expand on how that helped you seeing that. Because you don't just come across like an amputee every day.

And so just being in the community where everyone has experienced what you've gone through of loss of a limb or like just being born without a limb they know like your struggles and your pain and it's truly one of the best experiences ever and then I have like friend one of my friends in Georgia she is so sweet like she'll just like I'll ask her like how do you go to the bathroom like in the beginning and I was like she sent me videos um is it what's her name man man yeah she's passion yeah that's awesome yeah she's amazing And so, like, it's so, like, awesome. Like, they're so willing to help you.

Yeah. Like, they don't care. They're just, like, because they've been through it. They needed help. And so now it's, like, that's what I want to do now. It's just, like, help others go through, like, the hard times where you teach them how to do their hair, how to put on shoes. Lauren Kennedy, we got a video from her being like, okay, this is how you use Nubb to put up your hair in a clip, like, so super helpful. Wow.

That is just, like, such an awesome community. to be a part of. Wait, that is so cool. I love that. You would never know that. Like, that is so cool how people rally around. That is what it's all about, like, sisterhood and friendship. We're coming in and, like, again, how do you go to the bathroom?

Like, how do you put your hair up? Like, you want to ask those, like, practical questions. You don't think about. Man, that is, like, so cool to hear. So I mentioned that, well, first, I got to back it up because y'all went to the Beth and Hamilton thing and you both surfed. Yes. What was that like getting back in the water?

and actually surfing, because we talked about this. I told you, I was like, I've always been scared of the water. Like, my family has, like, made fun of me because I'm the one that, like, doesn't want to get in the water. Then I married a family from Florida who loves to get in the water. And I was like, okay, I'll overcome this fear. But you talked about how you were afraid to get in the water beforehand, like, just like everybody is. And then you actually got Bitbashark, and then you got back in the water. Like, talk about crazy confidence.

What was that like? It was definitely hard getting back in the water. just because that's like where my life completely shifted. Right. But like and the first time I got back in the water was in California and we were surfing and it was awesome. My mom was there. So she was talking through a video and like all the girls are cheering me on because

they like knew how hard it was. But when I got on the surfboard, I was just like felt free and like I just let the wind blow through my hair. I would fall in the ocean and splash. it was literally just pure joy. I cannot stop smiling. And it was just so much fun. And it was, it would be scared.

Like, it sounds scary, like, from an outside perspective of, like, getting back in the water. But, like, once I was in, I was, I was in. And there was just, like, just, I kept on surfing. I probably went, like, 20 times. It was so fun. Tell her the story about the guy before you got on the... What story? About how he's like, you won't get bit by Sharry.

Oh. The worst thing is... Sorry. Okay. Yeah, I'll tell you this story. I mean, you don't have to go in there, but this is like, we were like, and before I went in, the, before I, the first of the, I love, I see your word now, it makes me laugh. Before the very first time, I went in.

Yes, that's true. Yeah, that's true. That's true. Before the very first time I went in, there were these, like, we had, like, these other people were just like, because I was just looking out into the ocean, like, by myself, just, like, contemplating. my decision and just like thinking about it and like letting the nerve set in and like the fear and whatever and just like thinking like I can do this like and this other guy came out to me and was like are you nervous and I was like yeah he was like it's okay the worst thing that can

happen is you get bit by a shark and I was like did he know you a guy bit by shot oh my god so his wife then called him like he really just say that to her his wife comes up was like brew he she is the one who got bit by the shark he was like he was like So embarrassed. Like foot out of the mouth. I still got in after that and I was like, I conquered it and I was, all the nerves went away. It was just like a brief. But I think that, that story made us obviously laugh.

Yeah. So it was like more of like a calming thing. It was definitely calming. You made me laugh last night when you were like, well, I mean, the odds of your name bit by a shark are like one in a million. And it happened to me once. So what are the odds it would happen to me twice? And it's like you're, you're just prospective. I think joy is such a key, like, being able to laugh in the face of, like, adversity and not laugh in a bad way, but it's like, you got a laugh to keep from crying.

Like, what does it say? A prover's 31 woman, like, she laughs at the fear of the future. It's like, yeah, you could, you know, be scared and anxious and all the time and do that. And you have every right to be. But it's like, well, that's not a way to, that's not the way you want to live your life. No, like you choose joy. Not living in fear. Another funny story about that.

So when we were in the hospital. Ellie was in Lily was supposed to be in Orlando playing in nationals at volleyball So I ended up flying leaving the hospital because I wanted to be there for Ellie Because Ellie was having a hard time she was there by herself So anyway there's two pieces to the story The first game that they had they were playing a team called the Sharks And the team called the Sharks went to the wrong court and didn't end up showing up so they had to forfeit.

So they were like, there's like a weird sign right there. And then the next day we had like clappers. You know, like clapper things with like the hands. Well, I like clap behind and one fell off. And I was like, looked at like the parents. I was like, I only have one hand. And they were like mortified that I said that. But I'm like, this is so like funny.

Like one hand clapper, Lulu just lost her hand. They were like, it might be too soon for you to like joke about us. I was like, well, what are we going to do? Like, you have to laugh about it. You have to laugh. Instead of be sad. Yes, I think it brings so much like, again, it's like the comparison that Paul writes of like being drunk and being filled with the spirit. Because people look at you and you're like, how could you laugh? How could you smile? And it's like, it's not because I'm being drunk and loose and flip it. It's because I have a deep hope. I have an anchored source of hope and life. And we know resurrection comes from death. And so it's just amazing how Rudy Jall are in Christ. You guys just just.

are so filled with the spirit that so many bioverses come out of your mouth. So much wisdom comes out of your mouth. And this whole podcast is centered on advice. Like we always ask, what's the best people's advice? And so much of that for me, like, why I wanted to do that is because I've gotten so much good advice from my mom, from my grandma, from my great-grandmother. And I'm like, I want to give that to other people because not everybody has that. But you, two girls have that. Y'all have quoted your mom so much. And gone so back to like the things she said to you in those times of struggle and those times of need. And I love how you Even today, she's set in the middle, and y'all were like, help us if we don't know what to say.

Like, you're just an incredible mom, and you pour so much into your girls. And now y'all are little world changers. Like, I can't wait to see what's next. The sky's, like, literally the limit for, I mean, not the, you're going to bus past the sky. Like, I can't wait to see all you're going to do. So tell us a little bit about what's next so we can start cheering y'all on. I know we're all going to go get to the foundation. And then tell us about kind of like the Paralympic, what you're going to do.

start training if you want to what your goals are a little bit of what was next so we just like had the official launch party for our foundation this past week and that was super fun just getting to spread awareness and having my foundation like official official and like being able to just like see people supporting me and the foundation and then we toured we have this foundation like five minutes down the road from it's called the lakeshore foundation and it's the parallympic training site and so we toured that the other day and it just like opened my mind to so many sports like there's so many opportunities and so I definitely when we're going to move back in me and Ellie are going to go train up there but I don't know right now what sport I want to do I'm kind of open to whatever suits me best and obviously which one I like the best and so I'm just excited and I really hope that

I can qualify for the Paralympics and just to see like where all I'm. I can go. But the good thing about like the foundation is like I learned, I didn't go on the tour, but Lulu like came on and was like, they like can tell me like what sports I'm good at before I even like try them. So like they'll help her in like all the ways they have a nutritionist. Like they have so much stuff and so many like what's the word like things accessible for her to use that.

And they like think of everything because obviously like the have people who. who are like paralyzed and like people who don't have limbs and so they'll think like their gyms have to be more spacious. They have to have adaptations for people to be able to lift things because there's so much, they're so accessible and it is just awesome. And it is literally just like right down the door from us. And it is like another God thing. Like not many people have like a Paralympic training center five minutes from them. I mean how many times we pass that never once been in? That's crazy.

God definitely had. huge things for y'all's family. He's already a show in y'all that and you guys are stepping into it with so much faith and so much fullness. I love you guys. I'm so grateful to know y'all, and I'm so glad y'all did this podcast. Thank you. This is going to bless so many people listening, and we can't wait to continue following you along and cheering y'all on. So I also want to say you sent Lulu like a big care package in the mail, like with books and swag and letters, and that was like so meaningful. like so special. That's so sweet. Well, from them and it happened, we were like, how can we help in any way? And you know, it's funny when I spoke at motion and I was talking to Mary

Lauren, I totally thought I was going to be with y'all. And then it was all your friends, which ended up being really, really sweet, getting to do the Bible study with all your friends. But what really struck me about your community is how much they really do love you guys and believe in y'all. And we're so praying for y'all. We're excited for you to be back. in school and you guys are surrounded by some gems for sure. But that speaks a lot to y'all's character a lot. But thank you for saying that. This is sweet. No, we appreciate it. And the other thing you talk about like sisters, like your sister podcast, so like their group of friends, like they were close before, but now there will be like sisters for life, you know. You go through something

like traumatic. Like their group of friends is not, they just become closer. Wow. Yeah. I feel like that's the thing with sisterhood when we say like we want to be a sister and a friend. it's one thing to be a friend, so I think to be a sister, because, like, a sister, when you go through something and you change, like, your relationship doesn't change. It actually gets deeper, you know, or with a sister, you can cry and you're not thinking twice about what you look like or what they're thinking. Are they judging you? Like, they're just here for it. You know, they're here for the whole thing. They're here, again, so, like, in the mess of it, to get in the sand, to hold your hand.

Like, that's a sister, whereas sometimes, like, when it's just a surface-level friendship, you've second-guess what you're. you're saying, what you're looking like. Are they going to be there? Is it going to change? But like, I'm sure you probably not even question that with each other. Like, that's just, of course you're going to be there. That's your sister. And the more, I think, you know, in Christ, like, we're called to sisterhood. Like, we're a family. And so to love people like that is such a gift. So foreign to the world to go like, I'm actually going to like be there more for you. You're going to go deeper. We're going to cheer you on. I'm going to get on a phone call or a video and teach you how to put your hair in a ponytail. I'm going to show you whatever it is. Last night, such a sister moment,

you weren't eating the oyster, and then we realized it was because it was going to be hard. And you're like, I'll feed you the oyster. Like, do you want the oyster? Like, this is a sister, you know? It's like, yeah, you can ask that. And so I'm glad you brought that up.