124. Reframing the Journey: Finding Gratitude in a Life You Didn’t Expect - Brain Injury Community Panel
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In this episode…
How do you hold on to thankfulness when you’re navigating symptoms, setbacks, or the emotional weight of daily challenges? Together we’ll explore how gratitude can coexist with grief, struggle, and healing - along with a podcast spotlight on the power of gratitude from Dr. Jeremy Schmoe.
In this heartfelt panel, host Cristabelle Braden invites Holly Kostrzewski, Joi Kue, and Robin Luftig for an honest conversation about gratitude, reflection, and resilience. Each panelist brings a unique story: Robin’s sudden medical crisis and brain tumor; Holly’s traumatic injury at 18 and decades of ongoing symptoms & reinjury; and Joi’s lifelong journey with hydrocephalus, childhood surgeries, and the emotional impact of growing up with a TBI. Together, they share the first emotions they faced, from hopelessness and confusion to loneliness, depression, and fear, and how each learned to find gratitude through difficulty. Their stories highlight the power of small celebrations, community, acceptance, and learning to reframe setbacks with compassion. You are not alone!
🌎 Let’s make a difference together! Millions of people are living with brain injury and struggling to find support… and at Hope Survives, we’re here to change that.
💙Join us for GivingTuesday: HopeSurvives.org/givingtuesday
Meet Our Panelists
Holly Kostrzewski: Holly Kostrzewski is an global keynote speaker who has inspired over one million people across the U.S., Canada, and New Zealand. Known for her signature keynotes: Hiking to the top of Mt. TBI:26 years of lessons learned of living with a traumatic brain injury and The Junk Drawer: Stop Hiding the Hard and Start Turning Life’s Clutter into Courage, Connection, and Resilience, Holly helps audiences transform adversity into strength and discover the power of authentic storytelling. As a woman living with a traumatic brain injury and the daughter of a paraplegic, Holly brings a rare blend of lived experience, humor, heart and hope to every stage. She spent 22 years in public service specializing in tribal, state, and federal traffic safety and injury prevention—earning national recognition for her leadership in rural and Tribal communities.
Connect with Holly: www.hollyspeaks.live or on IG: @holly_kostrzewski
Holly is a volunteer with Hope Survives on the Hope Ambassador Team.
Joi Kue: My name is Joi Kue, and my brain injury journey is very unique: Had Hydrocephalus as an infant, having suffered through multiple surgeries on my brain to install a VP shunt. In the 4th grade, I no longer needed the VP shunt and have been shunt free ever since! Due to the countless surgeries done, I was diagnosed with a Traumatic Brain Injury as well as ADD, a learning disability, and a slew of other symptoms including social problems, anxiety, just to name a couple.
Connect with Joi on IG: @joi_woo_music11
Joi is a volunteer with Hope Survives on the Hope Ambassador Team.
Robin Luftig: Be grateful in everything--even the bumpy rides ... is Robin Luftig’s mantra while either writing or speaking to audiences on healing after tragedy. The central theme to all her messages--grace is available for everyone. Luftig’s an award-winning author and columnist. God’s Best During Your Worst brought her the 2020 Golden Scroll and 2021 Blue Ridge Mountain Christian Writers Conference Director’s Choice awards. Her writing also dips into fiction. She’s a nationally sought speaker and shares stories of God’s mercy and grace at conferences and retreats. She is a leader in Word Weavers International and Advanced Writers and Speakers Association (AWSA). She hails from the Harrisburg, Pennsylvania area … but was born, raised, and lived most of her life in the Buckeye State of Ohio. She is a wife, mother, and grandmother. And she’s hooked on chocolate and is looking for a replacement to the Netflix series, “Sweet Magnolias.”
Connect with Robin: www.robinluftig.com or on IG: @robinluftig
Robin is a volunteer with Hope Survives on the Hope Ambassador Team.
Podcast Spotlight: The Power of Gratitude with Dr. Jeremy Schmoe
Thank you to The Functional Neurology Center for sponsoring this podcast - The FNC’s personalized neuro-recovery programs offer hope for those suffering from Brain Injuries, Dysautonomia, Vestibular, Chronic Pain, Stroke, Movement Dysfunction, Developmental Disorders, PPPD, FND and Complex Post Concussion. Learn more: thefnc.com
This podcast is for education and informational purposes only, and not intended for medical advice. If you need specific medical advice, please consult your physician.
