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My name is Brian Schiefer, and my life is a testament to the unbreakable human spirit, forged in the fires of service, shattered by tragedy, and rebuilt through relentless determination and innovation. As a medically retired U.S. Air Force veteran, I founded SCI-DI to turn my personal battles into a beacon of hope for others facing spinal cord injuries (SCI), traumatic brain injuries (TBI), and neurological challenges. What began as a fight for my own survival has evolved into a mission to empower veterans and civilians alike, bridging cutting-edge science, adaptive sports, and holistic therapies to redefine what's possible in recovery. This is my story—not just of loss, but of rediscovery, brotherhood, and the profound freedom found in unexpected places.

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Growing up in rural Michigan, far from the ocean's call, I was drawn to adventure and service from a young age. I enlisted in the Air Force, becoming a Tactical Air Control Party (TACP) member—a role that demanded precision, resilience, and unwavering commitment. I deployed to Afghanistan in 2003 and Iraq in 2005–2006 and 2006–2007, coordinating airstrikes and supporting ground forces in intense combat environments. Those experiences shaped me, teaching the value of teamwork, quick thinking, and pushing beyond limits. But in 2008, during a pre-deployment training exercise in California, a catastrophic Humvee rollover changed everything. The accident left me with devastating injuries: spinal fractures at C2, T4, T11, and L5; multiple broken vertebrae; shattered ribs, clavicle, and sternum; bilateral pneumothorax; torn shoulder ligaments; a skull fracture; and a severed sixth nerve in my left eye, causing permanent vision issues.

Stabilized with chest tubes and airlifted to Loma Linda University’s polytrauma center, I underwent a 14-hour spinal fusion surgery. For six weeks in the ICU, doctors gave me less than a 1% chance of walking again. Paralyzed from the chest down, I faced a new reality: life in a wheelchair, with no sensation or control below my injury level. Yet, even in those darkest moments, I refused to surrender. While still in the hospital, I finished my bachelor’s degree in International Relations, researching my injuries with one working eye and arm. I advocated fiercely, convincing doctors to administer high-dose steroids that stabilized sensation at T7 after it deteriorated in the ICU. My recovery journey took me from five months at the La Jolla VA SCI inpatient unit to the Detroit Medical Center’s Center for Spinal Cord Injury Recovery. Therapy was brutal—endless hours rebuilding strength—but progress in leg function was limited, compounded by undiagnosed TBI symptoms: cognitive fatigue, vision problems, emotional strain, and a constant fog from my skull fracture and nerve damage.

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In 2009, I was medically retired by PACAF Commander Lt. Gen. Utterback in a heartfelt ceremony. Relocating to the Florida Panhandle, I adapted to paraplegia, navigating challenges like thermoregulation, hand-controlled driving, grocery shopping, and cleaning—all without proprioceptive feedback. It was humbling and isolating, but my TACP brothers never left my side. During surgeries at UCLA Operation Mend—a gold standard for comprehensive veteran care—my former TACP buddies flew in to carry me post-op, filling gaps the VA couldn’t. Their brotherhood reminded me that recovery is built on connection.

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In 2010, prompted by colleagues receiving PTSD and TBI care, I secured a formal TBI diagnosis at the VA—nearly two years post-accident. Previously, my cognitive struggles were dismissed as "adjusting to paralysis." Enrolled in a hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT) study under Dr. Eddie Zant in Destin, Florida, I experienced transformative improvements: sharper cognition, better sleep, enhanced memory, and stronger relationships. No longer waking in a mental fog, I’ve completed over 300 HBOT sessions, aiding TBI recovery, tissue healing, and post-surgical outcomes. But the VA’s system often fell short; securing basic needs like wheelchairs, cushions, catheters, and hand controls involved bureaucratic battles lasting weeks, months, or years. These frustrations fueled my advocacy for systemic changes to make care more responsive for veterans with complex injuries.

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For over a decade, I’ve served as a Consumer Reviewer for the Congressionally Directed Medical Research Programs (CDMRP), evaluating grants for SCI, TBI, orthopedic outcomes, and neurological conditions. This role revealed stark research gaps—SCI and TBI are underfunded, despite veterans being three times more likely to suffer SCI than civilians. I’ve pushed my limits on land, completing the Los Angeles Marathon twice on a handcycle, proving resilience isn’t confined to the able-bodied. But it was in 2018, that I discovered a game-changer: adaptive scuba diving. I pioneered techniques tailored to my needs. Underwater, in a barrier-free 3D environment, I found liberation—reduced pain, better sleep, and relief from TBI-related fog, akin to HBOT but with the exhilaration of floating freely. “For the first time, I wasn’t limited,” I recall. “I wasn’t thinking about stairs, curbs, or obstacles. I could just be.” With nearly 100 dives, scuba became my sanctuary, sparking innovations in equipment for buoyancy, weighting, and movement.

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In the 17 years since my accident, I’ve never stopped chasing adventure and wonder. From scuba diving to handcycling, flying paramotors, skydiving, and getting into racing or water-sports, I live life to the fullest daily, proving that paralysis doesn’t define my limits. My exploration of psychedelics and plant-based therapies restored a sense of connection to my body’s lost sensations, alleviating inflammation and enhancing mental health. These breakthroughs, combined with neuromodulation and ketones, inspired me to act. In 2022, I founded SCI-DI, launching as an LLC in 2024 and filing for nonprofit status in 2025. Born from my own SCI, SCI-DI empowers the 294,000 Americans living with SCI—including 42,000 veterans—and the 17,730 new cases annually, by making therapies like HBOT, adaptive diving, psychedelics, and neuromodulation accessible and evidence-based.

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Our team of medical, academic, and military experts holds “skull sessions” to brainstorm bold ideas, from standardizing HBOT protocols to researching psychedelics’ anti-inflammatory effects via objective measures like cytokines. With a “don’t talk about it, be about it” ethos, we’ve partnered with institutions like the Alabama Brain Lab, leveraging devices like BrainBuds and ELVis for new healing modalities. We continue to pursue grants, and recently spoke at the 2024 and 2025 Aerospace Medicine Association meetings, hosting workshops on neuromodulation, vagus nerve stimulation, photic therapies, and psychedelics. These conversations with pilots, divers, and thought leaders in aerospace and hyperbaric medicine have ignited stimulating conversations.

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Through SCI-DI, we’re building a community of adaptive divers, advocating for policy changes, and developing specialized equipment to make scuba an evidence-based therapeutic tool. My journey—from near-death to two-time marathon finisher, HBOT advocate, and underwater pioneer—underscores the urgent need for these innovations. I’ve spoken at prestigious events, bridged nonprofit, for-profit, and academic sectors, and continue to push boundaries because I know the misery of isolation and the joy of reclaimed freedom.

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A Message from Brian

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To every veteran and individual battling SCI, TBI, or neurological hurdles: You are not defined by your injuries, but by the fire within to rise above them. I’ve wheeled this path, facing the fog of TBI, the frustration of bureaucracy, and the ache of lost mobility. But in the depths of the ocean and the heights of innovation, I’ve found hope, healing, and purpose. SCI-DI isn’t just an organization; it’s a movement born from my heart, dedicated to ensuring no one endures these hardships alone. Together, we’ll dive into uncharted waters, harness science and spirit, and emerge stronger. If my story resonates, join us—donate, dive, or dream big. Transformation starts with one breath, one dive, one bold step forward. Thank you for being part of this journey.

 

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