In this episode of The Art of Imperfect Adulting, Amy Stone speaks with Sheryl Ramstad about resilience, life-changing trauma, and finding meaning through unexpected adversity. Sheryl shares the riveting story of surviving a solo plane crash at age 29, her arduous physical and emotional recovery in a burn unit, and the surprising turn her career and personal life took as a result.

About the Guest:

Sheryl Ramstad is a survivor, trailblazer, and lifelong advocate for service. She has had successful careers in law, healthcare, and teaching. Above all, she treasures her role as a mother to three adult children and grandmother to six. Sheryl resides in Minneapolis with her husband, Lee.

"I would say that the prevalent thought I kept having was to not ask, why me? But what next? And that's what guided me throughout the rest of my decisions." — Sheryl Ramstad

Main Topics Covered:

• Sheryl’s path from aspiring lawyer and pilot to surviving a fiery plane crash on her first solo flight
• The intersection of elective change (choices) and changes thrust upon us by fate
• Details of her crash, the critical actions that saved her life, and the realities of acute trauma
• The long and disempowering recovery from burn injuries, and the power of friends, family, and faith
• How the accident reshaped her identity, career, and drive—and inspired her late-in-life nursing career
• The importance of patient voices in medical care, and giving back as a way to heal
• Writing her memoir and the role of honesty about faith in her storytelling
• Endurance running after burns, facing public curiosity, and building a full life beyond trauma

Quote from the Episode:

"I would say that the prevalent thought I kept having was to not ask, why me? But what next? And that's what guided me throughout the rest of my decisions." — Sheryl Ramstad

Timestamps: [00:00:05 ] Welcome & intros; where Sheryl calls home

[00:02:17 ] Surviving a plane crash at 29—Sheryl’s life before and after

[00:05:02 ] Being a female pilot in 1979 and solo flight details

[00:08:18 ] The crash, emergency decision-making, and escaping the wreckage

[00:13:33 ] Trauma memory, hospitalization, and the emotional toll

[00:17:24 ] Type A recovery struggles and loss of independence

[00:24:20 ] Channeling adversity into a career in nursing and supporting burn survivors

[00:28:40 ] Perseverance, faith, and support systems in healing

[00:43:15 ] Could her growth have happened without the accident?

[00:44:19 ] Writing Living Life Full Throttle—why and how

[00:49:39 ] Integrating faith into her story

[00:50:18 ] Book availability and final questions

Find Sheryl’s Book on Bookshop.org https://bookshop.org/a/87491/9781960876805 

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