In this powerful episode of Greater Than Grief, Melissa Hull sits down with Rick Ogsten—functional medicine health strategist, educator, certified coach, former infantry Marine and Navy Chaplain, and long-time friend—to explore what happens when trauma upends not just your body, but your identity.
Rick shares his journey surviving two unexplained traumatic brain injuries (TBIs) within 18 months, including helicopter medevacs, hospitalization, and profound physical, cognitive, and emotional challenges. Through this experience, he faced an identity crisis, grappling with the invisibility of brain injury and a disrupted sense of self.
Together, Melissa and Rick discuss:
How functional medicine differs from acute medical care and why building health reserves before a crisis is critical.
The role of the nervous system, capacity, and resilience in recovery.
Reframing purpose after trauma: shifting from "doing for others" to helping others help themselves.
Practical lessons for anyone navigating grief, health challenges, or life-altering change.
Rick's journey reminds us that acceptance of limitations is not surrender, and even after profound loss, there's a path to reclaiming agency, rebuilding identity, and creating meaningful impact.
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