Jamie ‘MoCrazy’ has a Message of Hope For Traumatic Mind Damage Survivors
Skilled skier, Jamie Crane-Mauzy, identified to her mates and followers as Jamie “MoCrazy” considered her complete identification as being primarily based round that of knowledgeable athlete. She was on the prime of her recreation, having gained gold within the junior championships, and representing the USA in freestyle snowboarding at first stopped in 2015.
Tragically, a critical fall on the slopes left her with a traumatic mind harm at age 22 and her life was turned fully the other way up. Fortunately, with the help of her loving mother (Grace) and sister (Jeanee), and with assist from the medical neighborhood, Jamie not solely survived, however went on to make an unbelievable restoration.
Whereas not destined to compete, she as soon as once more placed on the skis to show that the place there’s a will, there’s a approach. Not too long ago, a documentary was launched detailing her accident, restoration, and want to get higher. The movie follows her as she battles despair and finds hope within the face of adversity.
M&F sat down with this inspirational determine to search out out what she’s realized alongside the best way, and the way Jamie Crane-Mauzy’s journey helps others.
Why did you need to create the brief documentary, “#MoCrazyStrong”?
I wished to indicate a dynamic story that adjustments the narrative for ladies and household involvement round TBI [traumatic brain injury] restoration. I waited by my restoration journey to indicate the arc of climbing another peak, and rebuilding an identification after trauma. I needed to wait till I returned to Whistler Ski Resort to marry the love of my life, atop the very mountain that just about took my life!
Do you assume that a number of viewers will likely be reassured that it’s regular to really feel depressed even after a perceived “restoration”?
It’s OK to really feel depressed and overwhelmed after encountering a trauma, simply don’t keep caught on the backside. After a metaphorical avalanche slides you down the mountain of life, you may at all times climb another peak! Your capabilities could have completely modified, however you may at all times construct a life you’re keen on.
You needed to come to phrases with dropping the highs you felt by aggressive snowboarding. To place that into context, what it’s prefer to flip by the air and make a profitable 90-feet bounce?
Flipping by the air provides a second of elation that offers goal to all of the hours of labor that goes into studying that excellent trick.
When the crash occurred, did it put you off ever snowboarding once more?
No, the precise reverse occurred. I used to be in a coma for 10 days. Then, I had critical amnesia for six weeks after waking from the coma. In the course of the amnesia, I knew I used to be knowledgeable skier and wished to return to skilled snowboarding. Once I determined I used to be going to return I couldn’t even stroll up a flight of stairs independently.
The primary winter, I mentally attributed my TBI with different ski accidents like damaged bones or torn ligaments. I used to be planning on taking that winter off competing after which I’d return to the world tour, however I knew I needed to relearn to ski and all my methods. In the long run, I made a decision I didn’t need to threat loss of life, so I made a decision to not return to competitors and needed to construct a brand new identification for myself as a TBI advocate.
How did you deal with that vital choice within the early going?
Once I started to understand that my earlier identification as knowledgeable skier had been ripped away, I started to endure main dips in my happiness. Someday, whereas nonetheless residing at my mother’s home in Park Metropolis, UT, I keep in mind mendacity in mattress and having the considered ‘who would care if I bought up?’ That first winter, my mother instructed me that an organization I used to be a grant recipient from; Excessive Fives Basis had already paid for me to go to psychological remedy. I didn’t assume I wanted remedy. I felt like I used to be presupposed to be pleased as a result of I used to be alive, however then I might get triggered to cry 3-5 instances every day. Going to remedy was the most effective issues I’ve ever achieved and I return to remedy at any time when I would like outdoors assist, balancing the traumas I expertise.
How did you go about filling the additional time that you simply now had post-skiing?
I began attending college one 12 months out of my TBI. It was so useful for me to have a goal, set objectives, and be capable to really feel like I had construction. I might advocate that everybody recovering from a life altering trauma ought to discover one thing to place optimistic power into with a gaggle. It might be music classes, becoming a member of a ebook membership… I just lately met a TBI survivor who began the Montana Puzzle Membership as a method to deliver survivors collectively!
How did you regain your mobility?
There’s a number of bodily work that went into regaining my mobility. I understood the idea of pushing past your capabilities, having competed in sports activities my complete life. For instance, after I was leaving the hospital, I did yoga with my mother three days per week. I had very dangerous steadiness on the time, so it was very rudimentary yoga. A whole lot of the yoga was sitting and shifting my palms, or mendacity on the ground to maneuver my legs. My mother additionally understood, as I used to be rewiring my mind, that you will need to relearn to decelerate my mind with Shavasana (a soothing facet of yoga). These little steps of health are important to rebuilding your life. Most individuals can do some bodily exercise even when they assume they will’t. You simply must be artistic and break it all the way down to what you presently can accomplish.
How important was it have a help group like your loved ones round you?
It is extremely vital to have a help group when recovering from a critical accident. Whereas household was crucial to me due to my mother’s schooling on mind growth, I respect that not everybody has a supportive household. There’s a large distinction from being a coddling household to being a supportive household, too. Very often, a household thinks that they’re being supportive when actually they’re limiting the TBI survivor’s skill to return to being impartial. There was a time after I couldn’t maintain a glass with out spilling the liquid. It could have been very simple for my mother to consider she was being supportive by forcing me to carry the glass in my robust hand. As a substitute, she taped down my robust hand and compelled me to carry water within the cup with my weak hand. That allowed my mind to rebuild the pathways and synaptic connections, which allowed me to regain full mobility.
How energetic are you now?
I would like train to remain sane! I like actions, like mountaineering and snowboarding, Pilates, yoga and barre class. I attempt to do not less than a brief stroll or some stretching day-after-day, and I would like a category, or lengthy train exercise not less than 3 days every week. Final week, I used to be at a movie pageant, residence for 4 days after which went to a different movie pageant. Earlier than I even got here residence I signed up for 3 yoga and firming courses to reset me.
What’s your relationship with snowboarding like now?
I returned to snowboarding in December in 2015, 9 months after my TBI. Once I returned I used to be very excited and pleased! It didn’t faze me that I needed to relearn to ski and I used to be again on the bunny slope. As an athlete, you might be used to taking it mellow after a torn ACL. What did have an effect on me emotionally was after I got here to the conclusion that I used to be not returning to competing. I needed to understanding I might by no means once more have that feeling of hovering by the air, weightless, and free feeling.
For individuals who could really feel like a serious accident means they have to hand over what they love. What would you say to them?
Once more; you may climb another peak. Normalize the struggles and despair. It’s alright to really feel dangerous, overwhelmed, and confused about why this occurred to you. However don’t keep there. Get the assist you to want, like a therapist, bodily coach, contact your states TBI affiliation or name Mind Damage Affiliation of America for info 1-800-444-6443. Science has developed into the idea which you can recuperate from a traumatic mind harm, so now we have to talk and educate that to the coverage makers, trauma facilities, and common public. These points are all a part of our marketing campaign #MoCrazyStrong.
How can the “Muscle & Health” viewers watch #MoCrazyStrong?
For 2023 we’re doing a movie pageant run throughout North America. We’re additionally delivering personal screenings for individuals who have survived a Traumatic Mind Damage, household caregivers, therapists and help workers, medical college college students and educators. If you want to host a screening please contact us by the web site.
