Levi Stanford knows how quickly life can be taken away. At age 26, he nearly died only five days after marrying the woman he loved most.
His keynote speeches are about overcoming adversity and learning skills that help you adapt. Levi also shows how to maintain a positive attitude and keep up determination. He talks about accepting responsibility for circumstances and what being in control of your attitude means.
The accident wasn’t supposed to happen. Stanford had spent a lot of time studying pyrotechnics and was experienced in it. He loved the field so much he was considering the industry for a career.
He, his wife, and a few family members visited St. Mary Reservoir near Cardston July 15, 2015. Levi designed a water pyrotechnic display that would produce a magnificent geyser in the air. A video camera was on hand to capture the event.
Levi’s creation went off in his hand near his face and the 2.5 pounds of explosive material should have killed him. The blast shredded his right hand and leg and took off his left hand. It blew off all his clothes. He couldn’t be lifted out of the remote area, even with family’s help, so he walked blind up an embankment and across an abandoned train bridge, and to his truck where he could be taken to a waiting ambulance. He thought he was going to die and said goodbye to his bride.
His medical journey landed him at Foothills Hospital in Calgary where doctors put him in an induced coma for six days. His first sight after waking up was his wife standing there.
While the doctors told him he would be in the hospital for six months, Levi worked hard and was released in 57 days. He readjusted his life to include ongoing physical therapy where he learned to reuse his right hand and how to play piano again. He needs prosthetics for where his left hand was so he welded 15 that help him daily, including a spatula to turn burgers on the grill and an attachment to assist in roasting hot dogs.
His keynote speeches are about overcoming adversity and learning skills that help you adapt. Levi also shows how to maintain a positive attitude and keep up determination. He talks about accepting responsibility for circumstances and what being in control of your attitude means.
