Imagine going from a happy athletic teenager to becoming paralyzed from the neck down — with no feeling, movement, or cure for a brighter medical outcome.
Meet Natalie Buchoz. Just before her 16th birthday, Natalie endured a life-altering spinal cord injury that changed her path forever. From once a happy and athletic teenager, she had to relearn the very basics: breathing, sitting up, feeding herself, and using her hands again, all while being told she might never live independently or pursue her passions.
Yet Natalie defied every expectation with her relentless spirit and what her loved ones called her “Nattitude.” This fierce, faith-driven determination led her to walk at her high school graduation, earn a degree at USC, and become one of the first producers with a spinal cord injury to make waves in the media industry. Today, she works alongside some of the world’s leading talent, including renowned psychiatrist Dr. Daniel Amen.
In life, we’re often faced with a choice: to be defined by our past or to let it propel us toward something greater. In this episode, Natalie shares how she turned the unimaginable loss into a story of hope, faith, and purpose. Tune in to be moved, uplifted, and reminded that sometimes our calling is bigger than we could ever imagine.
In this episode:- The beginning of a beautiful friendship
- The importance of finding and nurturing genuine friendships that empower and elevate one another
- Clarity Over Comparison — the importance of defining what you truly want
- Natalie’s Life-Altering Accident
- Unshakeable Identity — defining yourself beyond what can be taken away
- The power of surrendering to a higher purpose
- Embracing your uniqueness
- The importance of finding mentors who challenge you and help you see your potential
- From Reluctance to Resonance — how Natalie inspired others through her authentic online presence
- Embracing gratitude by acknowledging abundance in our everyday lives
- Why normalizing disability is key to creating a more inclusive society
- And so much more!
- FORDIFY with Emily Ford | https://fordifymybrand.com
- Instagram | https://www.instagram.com/nataliebuchoz
- Facebook | https://www.facebook.com/natalie.buchoz/
- YouTube | https://www.youtube.com/@nataliebuchoz7246
- TikTok | https://www.tiktok.com/@nataliebuchoz
- Website | https://meetemilyford.com
- On Instagram | https://www.instagram.com/itsemily
- On Facebook | https://www.facebook.com/itsemilymethod
- On YouTube | https://www.youtube.com/c/ITSEMILYFORD
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