39 | Maybe It Saved My Life

39 | Maybe It Saved My Life

From Alive Again by iHeartPodcasts

January 20, 2026 · 49 min · Season 1 · Episode 39

About this episode

Drew Seibert shares his transformative journey from a near-death experience to becoming a quadriplegic and advocating for veterans.

On a 110° Grand Canyon trek rerouted by wildfire, Drew Seibert collapsed alone—hallucinating a friend, cooling in a cave, and realizing he might die there. He didn’t. A river guide’s sat phone summoned a helicopter, and Drew went home to Atlanta… where a midnight fall in his bathroom broke his neck and stopped his breathing.  Kept alive by his partner’s improvised rescue and then a ventilator, Drew awoke to a new life as a quadriplegic. What followed was the slow, stubborn work of neuroplastic recovery at Shepherd Center: first wrist, first ankle, standing, driving, and the daily discipline of building strength when it would be easier to give up. Along the way, he reimagined purpose—leaving medicine, going to law school, and now advocating for veterans while speaking frankly about autonomy, access to care, and what we owe one another. “You don’t have a lot of choice in the matter,” he says. “Do the best you can to keep heading in the right direction.” Story Producer: Brent Dey If you have a transformative near-death experience to share, we’d love to hear your story! Please email us at…

People in this episode

Guest: Drew Seibert

Topics covered

  • neuroplastic recovery
  • quadriplegia
  • advocacy
  • veterans
  • near-death experience
  • personal transformation

Keywords

  • Grand Canyon
  • wildfire
  • neuroplastic recovery
  • quadriplegic
  • advocacy
  • veterans
  • autonomy
  • access to care

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: Shepherd Center

Places: Atlanta, Grand Canyon

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