Today’s guest is Reverend Eleanor Shell, the founder of Resilient Magnolia. After surviving a traumatic brain injury in 2024, Eleanor began sharing her powerful story of recovery and reflection. She weaves together her background as a pastor, fundraiser, and community builder with her lived experience of healing. Through writing, speaking, and creative projects, Eleanor sparks conversations about what it means to move through bad days, grow in the dark, and bloom anyway. At the heart of her work is a belief that resilience is not about enduring in silence, but about growing authentically and finding new ways to flourish even when life doesn't go according to plan.Summary:

In this deeply moving and insightful episode, Bethany Lewis talks with Reverend Eleanor Shell about her life-altering concussion after being hit by a car while walking with her infant daughter. Eleanor shares the shocking and often frustrating journey of getting diagnosed, the "blooming" of her symptoms days after the injury, and the profound impact it had on her identity as a high-achieving professional, community leader, and mother.

We discuss:

• The initial denial and the challenge of getting a proper diagnosis.

• The drastic shift from being the "franchise player" in her family to being on the "injured reserve."

• The emotional toll, including depression and the struggle with identity.

• The treatments and therapies that helped, including intensive programs at the Shepherd Center in Atlanta and UPMC in Pittsburgh.

• The concept of "resiliency" and how Eleanor redefined it from "bouncing back" to a journey of "sustained growth through honesty, rhythm, and renewal."

• Practical advice for caregivers and loved ones.

Description:

What does it truly mean to be resilient after a life-changing event like a brain injury? In this episode of the Concussion Coach Podcast, Bethany Lewis sits down with Reverend Eleanor Shell, who shares her raw and powerful story of surviving a traumatic brain injury. Eleanor opens up about the invisible struggles, the mourning of her former self, and the difficult but beautiful journey of redefining her purpose. She explains her "Resiliency Arc"—a framework for moving through bad days, seasons of endurance, and ultimately finding a way to "bloom anyway." If you or someone you love is navigating a difficult season, whether from a concussion or another life-altering event, this conversation is a beacon of hope, honesty, and practical wisdom. Learn how to move through hardship with authenticity and discover that resilience is a journey, not a destination.

Resources & Contact Info Mentioned by Guest:

Eleanor's Platforms:

• Resilient Magnolia on Substack: Where Eleanor writes about resilience, bad days, and her journey. https://resilientmagnolia.substack.com/ (Free subscription available)

• Resilient Magnolia Website: Find free resources, worksheets, affirmation cards, and more. www.resilientmagnolia.com

• Instagram (Personal Journey): Follow her ongoing journey at @reclaimingmybrain

Treatment Centers & Specialists Eleanor Mentioned:

• Shepherd Center (Atlanta): Complex Concussion Clinic. https://shepherd.org/treatment/services-clinics/concussion-clinic/

• UPMC Sports Medicine Concussion Program (Pittsburgh): A leading clinic in concussion treatment. https://www.upmc.com/services/sports-medicine/conditions/concussion

Other Helpful Concepts & Tools:

• Fair Play Method: A system to help couples divide the invisible labor of running a household. https://fairplaylife.com/

• Automatic Email Response: Eleanor uses an auto-reply to manage communication: "As I continue to recover from my accident, my time on email is limited. Please excuse any delay in response."

Podcast Host Contact Information:

Bethany Lewis, The Concussion Coach

• Coaching: Sign up for a free consultation for Bethany's concussion coaching HERE

Podcast Summary:

Bethany Lewis welcomes Andy Ellison to the Concussion Coach Podcast to share his profound journey with brain injury. A Colorado native, he has an impressive background in finance, having co-founded and served as CEO of Mountain View Bank of Commerce for 16 years before it was sold. He is now the CFO of the Boone Heart Institute.

Andy begins his story by recounting how a seemingly minor concussion in April 2021, sustained by walking into a doorframe, led to debilitating symptoms like an inability to look at screens, severe fatigue, and light and noise sensitivity.

A CT scan ordered by his doctor revealed an unexpected and incidental finding: a brain tumor in his left ventricle. This shocking diagnosis began a multi-year journey of monitoring the tumor.

The conversation delves into the challenges Andy faced in his high-level career, including how he navigated telling his employer and colleagues, and the blessing in disguise of learning to delegate. He shares powerful insights on:

• Managing Identity: Using the "just behave" theory to handle frustration and the concept of separating his life into "before" and "after" to stop comparing himself to his old self.

• The Power of Gratitude: Actively practicing gratitude to reframe difficult situations.

• Advice for Caregivers: The importance of believing the person with the injury and separating frustration with the situation from feelings toward the caregiver.

• Using Humor: He even shares his "brain tumor card" as a lighthearted way to explain cognitive hiccups.

• Maintaining Hope: He references the "Stockdale Paradox"—confronting the brutal reality of your situation while maintaining unwavering faith that you will prevail in the end.

Andy candidly discusses the symptoms he still manages today, including an inability to watch videos, bad days that require adjusted expectations, and ongoing fatigue. He ends with a powerful reason for sharing his story: to stop hiding his struggles and to offer himself as a resource and role model for others on a similar path.

Resources & Tools Mentioned:

• Brainwaves App: Brainwave: 37 Binaural Series App Andy uses for relaxation and symptom management. (Note: This is a popular app; link provided for reference.)

• The "Gap and the Gain" Concept: From the book by Dan Sullivan and Dr. Benjamin Hardy. Focus on how far you've come (the gain) rather than how far you are from your goal (the gap).

• The Stockdale Paradox: From Jim Collins' book "Good to Great." The concept of retaining faith that you will prevail in the end, while simultaneously confronting the most brutal facts of your current reality.

• Ram Dass: A spiritual teacher and author who spoke about his own transformative experience after a stroke. Andy referenced his idea of dividing life into "before and after."

• Cognitive FX: The clinic where Andy underwent intensive therapy and received the fMRI that showed his tumor was growing. https://www.cognitivefxusa.com/

• Bethany's Free Guide: "The 5 Best Ways to Support Your Loved One Dealing with a Concussion." Download at www.theconcussioncoach.com.

• Concussion Coaching: Bethany's program for one-on-one mentorship through concussion recovery. Sign up for a free consultation at www.theconcussioncoach.com.

Connect with Andy Ellison:Andy has generously offered to be a resource and help others find role models on their recovery journey. You can reach him via email at: ellisonandy@msn.com

Connect with Bethany & The Concussion Coach Podcast:

• Website: www.theconcussioncoach.com

• Sign up for a Free Consultation: www.theconcussioncoach.com

• Download the Free Guide for Loved Ones: www.theconcussioncoach.com

Thank you for listening! If this episode brought you hope or insight, please help us spread the word by rating, reviewing, and subscribing to The Concussion Coach Podcast.