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

For The Love Of: Trade-offs we make in pursuit of our passions

What if the day you faced a life-threatening sports injury was one of the best days of your life? And what does that mean for your loved ones?

Married couple Sensi Graves and Brandon Scheid are professional wind sport athletes. Sensi is a pro kiter, retreat host, founder of Sensi Graves Swim, and speaker. Brandon is a pro athlete and kite designer, as well as a survivor of a recent traumatic brain injury who’s been coming to terms with his injuries.

We talk about…

- Brandon’s November 2023 speed flying accident that could’ve killed him

- Falling at 60mph, crashing into a cliff, fracturing his pelvis and back, and experiencing two brain injuries on impact

- The lasting effects of one of the TBIs: judgment, criticism, anger, and lack of compassion, often towards Sensi

- Sensi's experience of hearing the news that her husband might not make it

- The early days of traumatic brain injury recovery: experiencing mania, frustration, and having no filter

- Flying FPV drones as a direct replacement for speed flying: getting adrenaline rushes and feeling like he’s flying

- Discovering 2 weeks after the accident that Sensi is pregnant

- What Brandon and Sensi would tell people who are afraid of experiencing a life-changing injury or illness

- How to support loved ones going through a life-changing injury or illness

- Learning to let yourself be held and supported by other people

- Trusting that despite all the challenges and hard work, everything is going to be okay

- The more you experience the hard parts of life, the more you can experience the great parts

PSST! If you like this episode, you’ll love these two:

How a Mountaineering Accident Taught Doug Beardsley to Live Life to the Fullest

How Pro Kitesurfer Jason Slezak Stopped Chasing Highs to Avoid His Past Trauma and Changed His Approach to Sports and Mental Health.

How to connect with Sensi and Brandon:

• Sensi Graves Swim
• Sensi on Instagram
• Brandon on Instagram
• Brandon’s FPV drone footage
• Sensi’s website

👋How to connect with Jeni and Angie:

• Jeni on Instagram
• Angie on Instagram
• Angie’s website
• Angie on LinkedIn
• FTLO on Instagram

⭐Please rate and review For The Love Of:

• On Apple Podcasts
• On Spotify

Shout-Outs:

• Music: The Kind of Sandwich Island by Shut-ins
• Thank you to The Ruins, the best wedding venue in Oregon, for supporting the show.

Follow FTLO on IG: https://www.instagram.com/for.the.love.of.podcast/

For full show notes and more: https://fortheloveofpod.com

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