My Story

Surviving the Crash
My 1996 Snowmobile Accident, Traumatic Brain Injury, and Remarkable Recovery Journey By Greg RedingChisago City, MinnesotaWritten February 2026 (Original events: March–July 1996 and beyond) Dedication: To my wife and family for their unwavering support, to my brother John for being there that day and helping tell the full story, and to every rider, patient, and survivor who faces adversity with determination. This book is also for anyone who has been told “this is as good as it gets”—you may be capable of more than you know. Introduction: From Flight to... Read more...
Chapter 1: The Day Everything Changed – March 9, 1996
It was a classic cold, snowy Minnesota Saturday. My brother John had just bought a new snowmobile, and I had recently purchased mine too. My parents were hosting a belated birthday lunch for the family, but my wife and kids were still sleeping, so I left early for the 30-minute ride to my parents’ house, where John was living. We geared up properly: brand-new helmets, kidney belts, heavy gloves, and riding boots. Then we headed out—brothers being brothers. Everything became a competition. I’m the oldest; he’s the youngest of my... Read more...
Chapter 2: The Impact – From My Brother’s Perspective
I hit an unmarked 2 ft × 3 ft ice block hidden under drifted snow. My brother watched me launch. He said I looked like I was still sitting on the snowmobile—except the machine was gone. My body flew 330 feet through the air. My sled’s distance was measured at twice that distance, at 660 feet. My brother said it was upside down, idling. He said they rolled it over and shut it off.  I landed hard. I suffered three broken ribs, a punctured lung (pneumothorax), and a severe traumatic... Read more...
Chapter 3: The Coma and Awakening
I have no memory of the first six weeks. My first clear memory is April 21, 1996—43 days after the crash. I woke up in a hospital bed, looked out the window expecting snow, and saw green leaves and freshly cut grass. I thought, “What the hell?”  I got out of bed, went to the window, then noticed the family calendar by the door. They had been crossing off days since March 9. I had been in a coma until March 29 and was still in the hospital. A nurse... Read more...
Chapter 4: Transfer to Bethesda Hospital – Freedom and Rehabilitation
After a couple more weeks at Regions, I was transferred to Bethesda Hospital in St. Paul (about 2 miles away), which specialized in traumatic accidents and brain-injury rehabilitation. The difference was night and day. At Regions, I was restricted; at Bethesda, the nurse said, “You can go wherever you want. Get a soda from the fridge, eat in the cafeteria, go outside—just let us know when you leave and return.”  I walked the halls, went outside on spring mornings, and even became the “engine” for my wife’s second cousin who... Read more...
Chapter 5: Home and Early Recovery – May 31, 1996 Onward
I was discharged May 31, 1996. Work (I was the “robot god” maintaining 22 robotic welder arms) called wanting me back. The doctor recommended a gradual return: 4 hours per day for a week, then 6 hours, then full time after two weeks. I followed it. At home, I did normal chores—changed the clutch in my dad’s car, mowed 2 acres of lawn. My body started protesting: lower-back pain and left-ankle pain appeared even though neither was directly injured in the crash. These were likely compensatory issues from altered gait... Read more...
Chapter 6: Chiropractic Care – The Turning Point for Pain
In late July 1996, we attended a town fair. A chiropractic booth (Lakewoods Chiropractic Forest Lake, MN, Dr. Jason Gerard) was there. I’d never been to a chiropractor. I described the accident and the new pains I was experiencing. He evaluated me, and we started a Family Wellness Plan: three adjustments per week for two weeks, then twice per week, then once per week, with re-evaluation. After the very first week of three adjustments, my lower back felt great, and my left ankle pain—which had persisted for months—completely stopped and... Read more...
Chapter 7: Long-Term Wellness Tools That Keep Me Active in My 60s
My brother (also my neighbor) has a zero-gravity massage chair he lets me use. Through my chiropractor’s recommendations over the years, my wife and I invested in: An infrared saunaA complete sleep systemA higher-end multi-axis zero-gravity massage chair Supporting science: Zero-gravity positioning dramatically reduces spinal compression and lower-back pressure, improves circulation, and is widely recommended for chronic back pain and post-injury recovery. (Relax The Back, Human Touch, Titan Chair research summaries) Infrared sauna increases blood flow, reduces muscle soreness and inflammation, accelerates removal of metabolic waste, and improves neuromuscular recovery... Read more...