Preview Mode Links will not work in preview mode

The Injured Athletes Club


Jun 13, 2019

The day after Roy Tuscany burst-fractured his T12 vertebrae in a skiing accident, the doctor who performed the eight-hour emergency operation that stabilized his spine came to his hospital room. Roy, eager to show appreciation, put his hand up to to give the surgeon a high-five. After a few awkward moments, the physician reciprocated—and Roy realized what a powerful, positive moment of connection he’d created.

 

In the aftermath of his accident, Roy also found another source of positivity—the support of his family, friends and community. The Sugar Bowl Academy, the school for competitive skiers where he’d been teaching, started a fund that enabled him to focus on healing without worrying about finances.

 

As Roy moved through recovery, he decided to repay this kindness by starting an organization that would offer the same gift to other injured athletes. Fittingly, he named it after the gesture of goodwill he’d since shared with nearly all his medical professionals. Now, more than 10 years later, the High Fives Foundation has disbursed more than $3 million in grants to 237 athletes from 32 states.

 

Roy joined us today to discuss:

  • How he first fell in love with skiing and how it became a part of what he calls his “ethos”: “The most beautiful way to travel is sliding on snow”
  • How his accident happened, and how he nearly immediately made the decision to move forward with a new life instead of focusing on what he had lost
  • The significance of the support he received as he recovered
  • How integral adaptive sports were to his healing process—and how learning to ski again convinced him of the need for the High Fives Foundation, to give others access to the same resources
  • What the organization does to provide connections and positivity to people facing difficult challenges: “When we can create community through sport, we are creating the strongest community possible”
  • How High Fives works to create independent athletes—people who have the tools and knowledge to participate in their sport on their own terms and schedule
  • The definition of athlete, per the High Fives Foundation: “anyone with a goal,” whether that’s skiing with family again or returning to high levels of competition
  • Athletes who exemplify the organization’s mission, including Olympic ski jumper Nick Fairall and viral sit-ski sensation Trevor Kennison
  • The positive changes that have occurred in his own life thanks to connecting with athletes like these
  • His primary messages for others facing life-altering injuries: Find examples of positivity, set goals with your brain, use your heart to drive you toward them, and above all remember: “It’ll never be the same, but it will be awesome”

 

Resources/links we mention:

 

We hope you’ll take a listen—you can subscribe wherever you get your podcasts, and if you like what you hear, please leave us a rating or a review in iTunes or Apple podcasts. And reach out anytime at hello@injuredathletesclub.com with questions, guest suggestions, or other feedback.

DISCLAIMER: This content is for educational & informational use only and & does not constitute medical advice. Do not disregard, avoid or delay obtaining medical or health related advice from your health-care professional because of something you may have heard in an episode of this podcast. You should not rely on this information as a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Please consult with a qualified medical professional for proper evaluation & treatment. Guests who speak on this podcast express their own opinions, experiences, and conclusions, and The Injured Athletes Club podcast hosts nor any company providing financial support endorses or opposes any particular treatment option discussed in the episodes of this podcast and are not responsible for any actions or inactions of listeners based on the information presented. The use of any information provided is solely at your own risk.