From Spinal Fractures to Race Medals

Some stories are too powerful not to share—and this one left me speechless.

In this interview for Get Healthy or Get Dead, I sat down with Shelli Schinkus, a competitive kayaker, all-around athlete, and driven professional who lives by one core principle: if you can move, you better move.

We first met at The Mighty Cumberland River Run in Burkesville, Kentucky—a 12-mile push through winding river during River Festivus. By pure coincidence, we’d each booked chalet suites for ourselves and our then-boyfriends—who were both long gone by race day. Turns out, we were neighbors at the hotel and newly single. We laughed about the timing and clicked instantly.

We joked about the coincidence in the parking lot, bonded over the mutual breakup energy, and hit it off immediately. What I didn’t know then—what no one could’ve guessed—is what Shelli had survived. It wasn’t until she posted a photo that stopped me in my tracks: her in a full halo brace, recovering from a catastrophic car accident.

At just 25, Shelli suffered a C1-C2 spinal fracture, a brain bleed, and extensive internal injuries. She went from winning kayak races to waking up in a rehab facility, not knowing if she’d ever walk again.

And yet—she’s back. Not just moving, but thriving.

Subscribe and watch the full interview and read the whole miraculous story.