Skilled skier, Jamie Crane-Mauzy, identified to her mates and followers as Jamie MoCrazy, considered her total id as primarily based on that of an expert athlete. She was on the high of her sport, having gained gold within the junior championships and representing the US in freestyle snowboarding earlier than all of it got here to a halt in 2015.
Tragically, a severe fall on the slopes left her with a head damage on the age of twenty-two and her life turned the other way up. Fortunately, with the assist of her loving mom (Grace) and her sister (Jeanee), and with the assistance of the medical neighborhood, Jamie not solely survived, however she made an unimaginable restoration.
Whereas now not destined to compete, she’s placed on skis as soon as once more to show that the place there is a will, there is a approach. A documentary was not too long ago launched detailing her accident, restoration, and want to enhance. The movie follows her as she battles melancholy and finds hope within the face of adversity.
M&F sat down with this inspirational determine to seek out out what she has realized alongside the way in which and the way Jamie Crane-Mauzy’s journey helps others.
Why did you need to create the brief documentary #MoCrazyStrong?
I needed to indicate a dynamic story that modifications the narrative for ladies and household involvement round TBI [traumatic brain injury] restoration. I’ve waited all through my restoration journey to indicate the arc of scaling an alternate peak and rebuilding an id after trauma. I needed to wait till I received again to Whistler Ski Resort to marry the love of my life, proper on the high of the mountain who virtually took my life!
Do you assume many viewers might be reassured that it is regular to really feel depressed even after a perceived upturn?
It is okay to really feel depressed and overwhelmed after encountering trauma, however do not get caught on the backside. After a metaphorical avalanche has despatched you sliding down the mountain of life, you’ll be able to at all times scale another peak! Your expertise could have modified completely, however you’ll be able to at all times construct a life you like.
You’ve got needed to cope with the lack of the highs you felt when snowboarding competitively. To place that into context, what’s it wish to spin via the air and efficiently make a 90-foot soar?
Flipping via the air offers a second of exhilaration that offers goal to all of the hours of labor wanted to be taught that good trick.
When the accident occurred, did it discourage you from snowboarding once more?
No, the precise reverse occurred. I’ve been in a coma for 10 days. Then, I had extreme amnesia for six weeks after waking up from the coma. In the course of the amnesia, I knew I used to be a professional skier and needed to return to professional snowboarding. After I determined I used to be going again I could not even stroll up a flight of stairs independently.
The primary winter, I mentally attributed my head damage to different ski accidents like damaged bones or torn ligaments. I used to be planning to take that winter off from racing after which return to the world tour, however I knew I needed to relearn find out how to ski and all my tips. In the end, I made a decision I did not need to danger dying, so I made a decision to not return to competitors and needed to construct a brand new id for myself as a TBI advocate.
How did you deal with this essential resolution at first?
As I started to appreciate that my former id as a professional skier had been stripped away, I started to expertise main declines in my happiness. Someday, whereas nonetheless residing in my mom’s home in Park Metropolis, UT, I bear in mind laying in mattress and considering who would care if I received up? That first winter, my mom advised me that an organization from which I used to be a scholarship recipient; Excessive Fives Basis had already paid for me to go to psychological remedy. I did not assume I wanted remedy. I felt like I must be comfortable as a result of I used to be alive however then I’d escape to cry 3-5 occasions a day. Going to remedy has been among the finest issues I’ve ever finished and I am going again to remedy each time I want outdoors assist, balancing the traumas I’m experiencing.
How did you make up for the additional time you now had after snowboarding?
I began going to high school a yr after the pinnacle damage. It has been very useful for me to have goal, set objectives, and have the ability to really feel that I’ve construction. I’d advocate anybody recovering from life altering trauma to seek out one thing to place constructive power into with a bunch. It could possibly be music classes, becoming a member of a e-book membership. I not too long ago met a TBI survivor who began the Montana Puzzle Membership as a method to convey survivors collectively!
How did you get well your mobility?
There’s lots of bodily work that has gone into regaining my mobility. I understood the idea of pushing your self past your skills, having competed in sports activities my total life. For instance, after I was getting out of the hospital, I did yoga with my mother three days per week. I had very unhealthy stability on the time, so it was very rudimentary yoga. A lot of the yoga was sitting and transferring my arms, or mendacity on the ground transferring my legs. My mother additionally realized as I used to be rewiring my mind that it is essential to relearn find out how to gradual my mind down with Shavasana (a soothing side of yoga). These small health steps are important to rebuilding your life. Most individuals can train even when they assume they cannot. You simply must get artistic and break it down into what you’ll be able to at the moment accomplish.
How important was it to have a assist group like your loved ones round you?
It is vitally essential to have a assist group when recovering from a severe accident. Whereas household was essential to me as a consequence of my mom’s schooling on mind growth, I admire that not everybody has supportive households. There’s a large distinction from being a cuddly household to additionally being a supportive household. Fairly often, a household thinks they’re being supportive when in actuality they’re limiting the TBI survivor’s potential to grow to be impartial once more. There was a time after I could not maintain a glass in my hand with out spilling the liquid. It will have been very simple for my mom to imagine she was being supportive by forcing me to carry the glass in my sturdy hand. As a substitute, she blocked my sturdy hand and compelled me to carry the water within the cup with my weak hand. This allowed my mind to rebuild synaptic pathways and connections, which allowed me to regain full mobility.
How energetic are you now?
I want train to remain sane! I get pleasure from actions, like climbing and snowboarding, pilates, yoga, and barre lessons. I attempt to do at the very least a brief stroll or some stretching every single day, and I want a category or lots of bodily exercise at the very least 3 days per week. I used to be at a movie competition final week, house for 4 days after which went to a different movie competition. Earlier than I even received house I signed up for 3 yoga and firming lessons to reset myself.
How is your relationship with snowboarding now?
I returned to snowboarding in December of 2015, 9 months after my head damage. After I got here again I used to be very excited and comfortable! It did not faze me that I needed to relearn find out how to ski and was again on the bunny path. As an athlete, you are used to taking it simple after a torn ACL. What hit me emotionally was after I realized I wasn’t going to compete once more. I needed to notice that I’d by no means once more have that feeling of floating within the air, weightless and feeling free.
For individuals who could really feel like a severe accident means they’ve to surrender what they love. What would you inform them?
Nonetheless; you’ll be able to climb another peak. Normalize struggles and melancholy. It is okay to really feel unhealthy, overwhelmed, and confused about why this occurred to you. However don’t remain there. Get the assist you to want, similar to a therapist, bodily coach, contact your state’s TBI affiliation, or name the Mind Damage Affiliation of America for info at 1-800-444-6443. Science has advanced on the idea that one can get well from a traumatic mind damage, so now we have to talk and educate this to coverage makers, trauma facilities and most of the people. These features are all a part of our #MoCrazyStrong marketing campaign.
How can the Muscle & Health viewers watch #MoCrazyStrong?
For 2023 we’re organizing a movie competition throughout North America. We’re additionally providing non-public screenings for people who find themselves traumatic mind damage survivors, household carers, therapists and assist employees, medical college college students and educators. If you need to host a screening please contact us through the web site.
