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Meet Adaptive Athlete: Brandi Fields

 

Brandi Fields

DOB: 1996

DOI: June 3rd, 2023

PATHOLOGY: T6/7 Spinal Cord Injury

Brandi Fields

Brandi Fields grew up in Lees Summit, Missouri and lived the All-American life, exploring passions in sports, music, and art. She played basketball and jumped in track & field, taught herself to play and record music, all while learning photography and videography. She still enjoys music and art today, citing them as creative outlets to deal with pain and clear her mind. 

 

While at a gathering last summer, Brandi was involved in a verbal altercation with her step-father that resulted in him targeting her with gunfire. She was struck multiple times and immediately became paralyzed upon impact, with a bullet striking her T6/T7 vertebrae. When she woke up in the hospital, doctors confirmed she was paralyzed from the chest down. Up until her injury, Brandi worked for six years as a registered nurse within the ER, trauma unit, and bone marrow transplant unit.

 

After a two month stay at the hospital, Brandi was released and went through a rigorous rehabilitation program to gain back some strength and mobility. Mentally, her recovery was not so linear. She recalls being very frustrated and angry at times, while other days feeling happy and like she was making significant progress. 

 

While at ATF, Brandi wants to learn more ways to challenge herself mentally and physically and also hopes to become a certified adaptive trainer to help others with similar injuries.

 

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