Hosted by Kiley Como | Guest: Michael Mashkevich, Life Coach & TBI Survivor
At Mind Matters, the podcast by Shane Smith Law, we spotlight real, raw, and often life-changing stories of brain injury survivors. Hosted by our Legal Nurse Consultant, Kiley Como, each episode dives into the medical, emotional, and legal challenges our guests face, and the strength it takes to rebuild.
In this episode, we meet Michael Mashkevich, a web developer and competitive tennis player whose life was upended in an instant. A devastating car crash left him with a traumatic brain injury, a shattered body, and months of uncertainty ahead. But what emerged from the wreckage wasn’t just survival; it was transformation.
A Friday Night That Changed Everything
Before the crash, Michael was thriving. He worked for Staples.com’s development team, lived an active life, and played in regular tennis tournaments. He followed a structured schedule: four 10-hour workdays and long weekends spent doing what he loved.
Then came one night in October 2012. Michael’s friend had just upgraded his car and wanted to test it out on a newly paved road. That road ended with a sharp, unmarked curve, and the car never made it. It slammed into a tree at high speed. Michael was unconscious, trapped in the wreckage, and had to be cut out with the jaws of life before being airlifted to the nearest hospital. He would remain in a coma for ten days.
A Long, Painful Recovery
The list of injuries was staggering. A traumatic brain injury. A shifted pelvis. A torn urethra that left him unable to urinate without a catheter. A shattered arm. A cracked ankle, discovered only months later. The early days were marked by intense pain, confusion, and total dependence on others.
What Michael remembers most from that time are the painful moments, like a blocked suprapubic catheter that led to an ER visit and searing discomfort. He also recalls the slow and difficult process of getting out of stabilization devices and learning to move again.
Despite all of this, he kept moving forward. Meditation through the Insight Timer app became one of his most powerful tools for managing stress, pain, and fear.
Forgiveness and Support
Amazingly, Michael didn’t harbor anger toward the friend who had been driving. Michael was the one who reached out first, letting him know he didn’t blame him. That moment of forgiveness helped both of them begin to heal.
Michael’s family flew in from across the country. His stepmother left her life in Los Angeles to be by his side in Boston. His tennis friends visited him in the hospital. That outpouring of support reminded him that he wasn’t alone, and it gave him strength to keep going.
A New Relationship with the Medical System
Michael worked with multiple surgeons and specialists during his recovery. While he was grateful for many, like Dr. Paulina Ray Black, who coordinated a complex urethral surgery with a specialist flown in from Texas, he also became more cautious. He learned that even well-meaning doctors don’t know everything, and that patient advocacy matters. As he puts it: “The best doctor for me has always been myself.”
He encourages others to research their conditions, ask questions, and take an active role in their care. That mindset helped him navigate follow-ups, surgeries, and tough decisions along the way.
Life After TBI
More than a decade later, Michael still deals with the lasting effects of his injuries. His vision fades throughout the day due to neurological fatigue. He can no longer play tennis like he used to. His arm still carries metal hardware, and some pain lingers.
But he’s found purpose and peace. He’s grateful: for life, for those who stood by him, and for the progress he’s made.
Michael’s story is a powerful reminder that while trauma can change everything, it can also reveal resilience you never knew you had.
👉 If you’d like to connect with Michael, you can find him on LinkedIn.
📞 In pain? Call Shane. 980-999-9999. We’re here to help.
Related Post:
From Injury to Impact: Michael Mashkevich on Purpose, Parenthood, and Post-TBI Growth
