Resilience is not an individual sport.
In this powerful episode of She Is a Leader, I sit down with retired U.S. Air Force Colonel Laurel “Buff” Burkel, whose life changed in an instant when a helicopter crash in Afghanistan left her with a broken neck and took the lives of five people, including two of her closest colleagues.
Buff shares what it was like to survive a near internal decapitation, wake up in a hospital in Germany, and begin a long recovery wearing a halo screwed into her skull. But this conversation goes far beyond the crash itself. We talk about survivor’s guilt, the courage it takes to ask for help, and the quiet strength required to rebuild your life when everything feels uncertain.
She opens up about walking onto her evacuation flight under her own power, honoring the people she lost by choosing to keep going, and discovering that resilience is not about doing it alone. It is about connection, community, and allowing others to stand beside you when you cannot carry it all yourself.
If you have ever faced a moment that reshaped your world or wondered how to rise after profound loss, this episode will remind you that strength is built together, not in isolation.
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🌟 Meet Laurel Burkel
Website: https://onetuffbird.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/OneTuffBird/
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🌟Connect with Yvi
https://instagram.com/askyvi
https://www.facebook.com/AskYvi/
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🏆 Highlights 🏆
00:00:00 | Introduction
00:03:47 | The Mission That Led to Buff's Deployment
00:08:35 | The Helicopter Ride That Changed Everything
00:16:47 | Striking the Tether: What Caused the Crash
00:22:49 | Rescue Efforts and Being Pulled from the Wreckage
00:28:53 | Buff's Emergency Evacuation to Germany
00:33:46 | Learning About the Broken Neck
00:42:48 | The Emotional Toll Behind the Scenes
00:59:22 | Asking for Help During Recovery
01:06:16 | Survivor’s Guilt and Honoring Lost Teammates
01:12:42 | Healing Through Travel and Connection
01:15:40 | "Resilience Is Not an Individual Sport"
01:17:21 | Celebrating Life After Trauma
🌟Connect with Yvi
https://instagram.com/askyvi
https://www.facebook.com/AskYvi/
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🏆 Highlights 🏆
00:00:00 | Introduction
00:03:47 | The Mission That Led to Buff's Deployment
00:08:35 | The Helicopter Ride That Changed Everything
00:16:47 | Striking the Tether: What Caused the Crash
00:22:49 | Rescue Efforts and Being Pulled from the Wreckage
00:28:53 | Buff's Emergency Evacuation to Germany
00:33:46 | Learning About the Broken Neck
00:42:48 | The Emotional Toll Behind the Scenes
00:59:22 | Asking for Help During Recovery
01:06:16 | Survivor’s Guilt and Honoring Lost Teammates
01:12:42 | Healing Through Travel and Connection
01:15:40 | "Resilience Is Not an Individual Sport"
01:17:21 | Celebrating Life After Trauma
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