There are moments in life that change everything in an instant. A phone call, a diagnosis, a loss , they can shatter the world as we know it, leaving us standing in the debris of what once was.
My guest this week, Jenny Brandemuehl, knows this truth all too well. A single phone call changed the course of her life forever, and yet, it also led her toward a deeper understanding of healing after loss, resilience, and the power of love and hope.
Jenny’s husband, Mark, was an experienced pilot and her soulmate for more than three decades. On what should have been a routine flight, his plane crashed and burst into flames. Miraculously, he survived - but with burns over 80% of his body. In the aftermath, Jenny became his voice, his advocate, and his unwavering companion through countless surgeries, painful recoveries, small victories, and heart-breaking setbacks.
From this unimaginable experience came her deeply moving memoir,
Forever Fly Free: One Woman’s Story of Resilience and the Power of Hope and Love.
It is both a love story and a story of rebirth, one woman’s journey through grief recovery and personal transformation, finding purpose in her darkest moments, rebuilding her identity from the ground up, and learning to open once more to the fullness of life.
In our heartfelt conversation, Jenny spoke with warmth and authenticity about the healing process, the courage it takes to live and love again, and how grief can become a gateway to personal growth. Her story is a reminder that even in the depths of loss, there is always a spark of life waiting to be rekindled, if we are willing to open our hearts to it.
So much of what Jenny shared resonated deeply with me. We will all, at some point, experience profound loss - moments that shift our entire perspective and quietly transform us from within. In those moments of deep emotion, something within us awakens. We begin to see, feel, and sense the world differently - perhaps more tenderly, more truthfully. It’s as though we begin to truly wake up to life again.
Even though I did not experience the same trauma as Jenny, I felt an undeniable connection to her words, the recognition that love is constant and change is inevitable.
And when we can find acceptance in this truth, we begin to move through the hardest days with a little more grace, a little more softness, and a deeper appreciation for the love that still surrounds us.
Jenny’s story is a testament to the resilience of the human spirit, to the healing power of hope, faith, and love.
May her courage remind us all that no matter how life may change, love will always find a way to lead us home to ourselves.
🌷 Listen to the Full Conversation
Join me on The Sharon Fitzmaurice Podcast as I sit down with Jenny Brandemuehl to explore her powerful journey of love, loss, and renewal.
Her wisdom will inspire anyone seeking emotional healing, self-discovery, and the courage to live again after heartbreak.
🎧 Listen to the full episode here
If Jenny’s story touches your heart, please share it with someone who may need a gentle reminder today that even through deep loss, hope and love can guide us back to ourselves.
Sharon Fitzmaurice
Holistic Wellness Coach, Author & Podcast Host