Special Report: Ski Accident Inspires Duluth Man’s New Career

DULUTH, Minn.– After enduring a ski accident back in 2021, it left 17-year-old Duluth native paralyzed.

It became an injury that inspired him to help others.

“I became a wheelchair user. And not just a wheelchair user. But I had to deal with the chronic symptoms that came along with spinal cord injuries. Like bowel and bladder management, taking care of my skin. There are a million things that come along with a spinal cord injury that people don’t think about. it’s not just being in the wheelchair. It’s so much more than that. And life becomes complicated,” said Mason Branstrator.

With everything changing in his life, Branstrator turned to content creation to help spread awareness on his new situation.

“It’s something that I’ve always wanted to do. But I never felt like I had a real reason to share my life. And so, after my injury, it all made sense to tell people about how to provide solutions. To make people’s lives better living with spinal cord injuries,” said Branstrator.

Branstrator documents everything happening in his life. Connecting with an impressive 275,000 followers on Instagram, and another 336,000 subscribers over on Youtube.

“I do everything from my day-to-day life. Showing people what it’s really like to live with a spinal cord injury. To providing mobility solutions to people. Showing people everything that is out there. Recently, I did a post for Minnesota State parks talking about 13 action tracks they put all around Minnesota,” explained Branstrator.

Branstrator also told Fox 21 that he wears hearing aids. And through his journey, they have now become a thing he doesn’t give second thought to.

The product he uses, Signia Silk Charge&Go IX. They work just like earbuds.

Branstrator continued to tell Fox 21 that it’s okay to use the tools in life to the best of your advantage. Because something as small of a change as glasses or hearing aids, can turn into a game changer.

Some of his messages, are more than just physical advice.

“Gosh, it’s so important to value every single day. Because we never get time back. Every single day that we have we’re never going to get back. And so how can we make the most of it and make the most of our time here with what we have,” said Branstrator.

He is also excited to help others offline.

“I want to get more into public speaking, maybe advocacy, consulting, disability consulting. Promoting spinal cord injury research is a huge thing I’ve sparked an interest in,” said Branstrator.

But for now, Mason is living the dream by creating these videos, and inspiring over half a million followers.