Duluthian's spinal injury recovery reaches, teaches social media masses

DULUTH — Mason Branstrator surfs and kayaks, he fishes with his dad. Like many almost-20-year-olds, he documents his outings on social media.

He also demonstrates how to gas up his vehicle and safely ride an escalator in a wheelchair.

Branstrator was a junior at Duluth East High School when he sustained a spinal cord injury during a skiing accident at Spirit Mountain on Jan. 18, 2021. It was the first ski run of the day, and by about 20 feet he overshot a jump he’d gone down “100 — 1,000 times, maybe.” He landed on his back.

He broke his T12 vertebrae, partially paralyzing him from the waist down.

“When I woke up in the hospital after getting the first surgery, I didn’t really know what life was looking like at that point,” he said in a 2021 News Tribune story.

Branstrator met with the News Tribune in August, two years after his accident and weeks before heading West to attend Denver University in Colorado.

Since the accident, he has documented his condition and recovery, as well as reclaimed beloved activities and learned new ones.

A scan of his Instagram account shows videos of Branstrator happily and humbly moving through the world. Dancing with his mom at a concert and lifting weights with friends.

Piggy-backing a friend to move across a sandy beach and joyfully whipping through a Northland trail with an electric scooter attachment on his wheelchair.

His social media posts are also instructional, and he shares the many adaptive adjustments he’s learned, from how he gets his wheelchair out of his car to how he transfers in and out of a swimming pool.

“I try to show people that life can be really beautiful after an injury like this,” he said.

Very few people have access to the type of specialized spinal cord injury rehab Branstrator received at Craig Hospital in Englewood, Colorado, and “It’s my duty in my education and my privilege in general to pay that forward,” he said.

Other paraplegics or folks with disabilities relate to his struggle, and he regularly hears how his presence gives people hope and motivation. And while he’s happy his posts reach many people — he has 168,000 Facebook followers — the best feedback is from his peers.

“It's been more than a blessing to have him,” said Gene Carson. “He's taught me how to adapt while being in a wheelchair, whether permanent or temporary, and life can be lived to the fullest no matter what you’re going through.”

The 25-year-old Maryland resident, who sustained a similar spinal cord injury, found Branstrator’s socials looking for stories to relate to online. After reaching out, Carson recalled the two connected instantly about hospital stays, physical therapy, rehabilitation and leg braces.

Carson described Branstrator as a friend he didn’t know he needed, and one who understands how delicate the body, mind and emotions are on this journey.

Branstrator has helped Carson dig out from “dark places” when he didn’t feel like moving, or during the times he didn’t see a bright future.

"In a situation like this, you feel so alone — like you’re the only person going through this — so connecting with somebody, especially near my age, who also has aspirations to be the best they can be means an incredible amount to me,” said Carson.

From the time of Branstrator’s injury, his progress has garnered much interest.

A GoFundMe campaign raised more than $104,000 for his prolonged care. Mason’s Next Steps was launched with links to Branstrator’s CaringBridge site and media coverage of his recovery.

From the get-go, Branstrator’s early goal was to walk again.

“That’s how humans are supposed to operate, and wheelchair sports are stupid because it’s really hard on your body,” he recalled thinking.

A year after the accident, he posted a YouTube video, documenting his progress.

Months later, and a year and a half into intense physical therapy, Branstrator decided to redirect his efforts to walk again.

“It’s a hard thing to grieve but not get lost in,” he said. “I really loved running the most. I loved feeling a burning in the side of my chest because I was pushing myself so hard ... but I'm really grateful I made that decision because life is so much more than just walking again, and finding that out was really powerful to me and it has led to a lot of big opportunities," he said.

“Freed from the need to walk again,” Branstrator aimed to move his body to complete functional tasks — like standing and putting his wheelchair in his car — and to experience the life-giving activities that interest him.

He took his first independent flight, he went to a three-day tennis camp alone, and he trained for and competed in a triathlon.

“My wheelchair liberates me,” he said, and turning to adaptive sports has allowed him to reclaim that fire from exertion and a sense of self.

“So much of that feeling, like you’re exhausted and really loving the sport, is believing — and belief is so powerful in a disabled body,” Branstrator added. “I’ve cried a number of times because it’s baffling to me that I can feel that again.”

People don't have to walk to be strong or have good fitness, said Duluth personal trainer Blake Peters. He has been working with Branstrator since August 2021 and is continually impressed with his client.

“He sets a very high standard for himself, and every time you interact with him, that’s how he shows up, genuinely curious in how to improve,” he said.

Asked about Branstrator’s social media following, Peters said his videos are accessible and relatable to a wide audience. He has a natural leadership quality, and his persistence, calmness and positive presence draw people in.

“Working with Mason is one of the prides of my personal training career," Peters said.

Branstrator said he is still processing parts of his accident. He recalled sharing about it at a public speaking engagement, when it dawned on him how “violent and serious” it was.

“Thank gosh I was wearing a helmet, things could’ve been a lot different,” he said.

He said focusing on gratitude and what’s serving him positively is his focus.

This week, Branstrator posted a tour of his wheelchair-accessible dorm room at Denver University. He said he’s happy to be just seven minutes away from the hospital that helped him heal.

Asked what’s next, Branstrator said he’s taking psychology, sociology and communications classes. He’s sponsored to race Grandma’s Marathon next year, but as for long-term goals, one thing is certain: “I’m going to help a lot of people.”

This story was updated at 3:57 p.m. Sept. 8, 2023, to correct the title of personal trainer Blake Peters in the story and photo caption. The News Tribune regrets the error.

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