They Told Her She'd Never Recover: Tragedy, Brain Injury, and a Near-Death Experience Couldn't Stop Her From Proving Them Wrong with Jen Chambers

Girls Who Recover with Dana Hunter Fradella

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Episode 24

If you’ve ever felt like your life had to be rebuilt from the ground up—or if you’re in the middle of doing that right now—this conversation with the incredible Jen Chambers will remind you of the power inside of you, regardless of external circumstances.

Jen is a writer, speaker, and host of Your Voice Matters podcast, whose life changed forever after a tragedy and a traumatic brain injury at the age of 15 erased every memory she had. She had to relearn how to walk, speak, and even understand what the color red was.

And yet? She’s here. Speaking her truth. Writing her story. And helping others do the same.

In this episode, we talk about:

• What it’s like to wake up from a coma and not know your name, your parents, or your past
• The white light experience that gave Jen a choice: stay or go
  How a miraculous (and untraceable) drug changed the course of her survival
• The "list" doctors made of all the things she'd never do again—and how she transformed it into her courage checklist
• Why our soul often knows what to do before our brain ever catches up

This episode is a powerful reminder that you are the author of your story—even if it has to start on a blank page.

You are not your past.
You are not your prognosis.
You are here, and your voice matters.

Connect with Jen

Jennifer Chambers is a writer, speaker, and host of the Your Voice Matters with Jen Chambers podcast, a show dedicated to the power of telling your own story. A former columnist and co-owner of a publishing company, she founded the TEDxVenetaWomen event and has spoken at conferences across the U.S., including the Women Writing the West Conference and the Body Love Conference in Tucson, AZ. She is an alumna of the University of Iowa Summer Writing Program.

After surviving a traumatic brain injury at age 15 that erased her memory, Jennifer had to relearn everything—from walking and speaking to discovering who she was. That experience ignited her passion for storytelling as a tool for healing, identity, and empowerment. She writes fantasy and paranormal fiction, as well as nonfiction focused on true crime and women’s history.

Her work invites others to reclaim their narratives, reminding us that telling your story isn’t just powerful—it’s transformative.

Here’s Jen’s:

Website / Instagram / Podcast

Connect with Dana

If you're ready to finally do the thing you’ve always wanted to do, I’d love to support you. Book your free 1:1 Breakthrough Call, where I’ll help you get clear on what you’d love to do (or have, or be), identify what’s really holding you back, and take the first best steps to take the leap.

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Hey gorgeous.

I love you.

I'm so proud of you.

And I believe in your ability to create a life you absolutely love.