Reclaim Purpose
After Trauma

(Psst…You’re worth the work)

When the Interstate 35W Bridge collapsed in downtown Minneapolis on Aug. 1, 2007, I found myself in the wrong place at the wrong time. My car plummeted over 100 feet into the muddy Mississippi River, and my life changed forever in a handful of seconds.

Following half a dozen surgeries, including facial reconstruction, I restarted my life only to realize that while the traumatic event was over, the emotional and mental freefall had only begun. I felt left alone to make sense of something nebulous, and I blindly tried to cope with the daily triggers that eroded my relationships and sense of self.

“There has to be an answer out there,” I told myself.

So I started to search. Through trial and error, I made negligible progress over the course of a decade. Then suddenly, like the swoop of a songbird, the answer showed itself; that salvaging my life post-trauma needed to happen in three ordered stages. Once I discovered that, the pieces started falling into place. I found a way forward.

I want to tell you what I learned.
Garrett Ebling

salvage (v.): to save something of use or value from destruction, damage, ruin, loss, or waste

Let Me Share My Story With You

Garrett Ebling's car involved in the I-35W Bridge collapse on Aug. 1, 2007.

The remains of the Ford Focus hatchback after diving more than 100 feet into the Mississippi River during the I-35W Bridge collapse in 2007.

Advanced

Since 2007, I’ve appeared in various TV news segments, newspaper articles, radio shows, podcasts, and documentaries regarding the I-35W Bridge collapse. I’ve even had a folk song written about me!

Along the way, I’ve shared my unique and inspirational story with thousands of people at various events on the topics of trauma recovery and resilience.

These include:

  • Mental health non-profits

  • Christian organizations

  • Hospital/medical center employee events

  • Wealth management symposiums

  • Wellness corporate meetings

  • And many more

Garrett Ebling and his mother Joyce Resoft

My mom and I while I recovered in the hospital one month after the collapse.

Click for Upcoming Events

I’m currently open to adding more events to my calendar. Contact me.

Let’s Connect

  • Speaking Events

    Have an upcoming event that requires an uplifting and motivational message? I’d love to meet you and present to your group or organization.

    Contact me if you’re planning to host a:

    • Conference

    • Banquet/Gala

    • Library or History Event

    • Book club event

    • Meet & Greet

    • Booksigning

    • or something else (let’s talk!)

    Click here to learn more & reach out.

  • Purchase the Book

    In my memoir “Collapsed: A Survivor’s Climb from the Wreckage of the 35W Bridge,” I recount my post-trauma experience and interview other collapse victims who share how Minnesota’s largest infrastructure accident altered their path.

    Click here to purchase a copy.

  • Follow Me

    I’m all over social media.

    Check out my Spotify podcast where I interview others facing trauma journeys. Click here.

    Find my Instagram video blogs where I share my post-trauma insights here.

    Visit my word blog where I journal my in-the-moment feelings in a post-trauma world by clicking here.

  • Raised in New Ulm, Minnesota

  • B.A. in Newspaper journalism, University of Wisconsin-Madison (1999)

  • Communications manager for Self Esteem Brands, Inc.

  • Former newspaper editor in the Mid-Atlantic and Upper Midwest

  • Former multi-location franchise restaurant owner

  • Currently lives in Saint George, Minnesota, with wife, Ileana, and son, Cooper

  • Hobbies: downhill skiing, boondocking, ATV riding, learning foreign languages, walking my two dogs Dinky & Osa

My Background