Tough Girl Podcast Sheryl Ramstad – Surviving the Impossible: A 1% Miracle, Radical Resilience, and Rebuilding Life After a Plane Crash
Sheryl Ramstad's story is nothing short of extraordinary. After surviving a catastrophic plane crash with less than a 1% chance of survival, Sheryl's life was forever changed. What began as her first solo flight at age 29 became a harrowing journey through life-threatening burns, multiple surgeries, overwhelming grief, and two years of excruciating rehabilitation.
But this isn't just a survival story—it's a testament to the power of resilience, faith, and the unbreakable human spirit.
In this powerful conversation, Sheryl shares how she transformed unimaginable trauma into a life of purpose, service, and adventure. From shifting her mindset from "Why me?" to "What's next?" to supporting burn survivors in Peru, going back to school at 62, raising three children, becoming a grandmother, and even climbing Mt. Kilimanjaro—Sheryl embodies what it means to live fully, bravely, and without regrets.
With her first book "Living Life Full Throttle: Surviving, Serving, and Summiting" published in January 2025, Sheryl reflects on a decades-long journey of healing, reinvention, and choosing courage over fear. Her story will inspire you to embrace challenges, pursue new beginnings at any age, and live life full throttle.
If you're looking for a reminder of what's possible—even in your darkest moments—this episode will stay with you long after you've listened.
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Show notes
- Who is Sheryl
- Being based in Minneapolis, Minnesota, US
- Being retired and writing her first book
- Surviving her first solo plane flight at 29 years old
- How this impacted how she lived the rest of her life
- Leaving work and no longer having an excuse not to write her story
- Having 3 adult children and 6 grandchildren
- Having the book published in late January of 2025
- The key moment when life changed
- Changed her focus from survival to service
- Being grateful for everyday and wanting to make her life meaningful for herself and for others
- Supporting burn survivors in Lima, Peru
- Being given a 1% chance of survival
- The importance of her faith, friends and family
- Applying for nursing school at 62
- Learning new skills
- Instead of asking why me - I ask - what's next
- Looking towards the future
- Having a strong family support system
- Having her faith to fall back on
- Reflecting back on writing her book
- Why it's been a life long process
- Serving
- Books for Africa
- Deciding to climb Mt. Kilimanjaro in Africa
- Deciding what to do with life
- Following a few simple principles
- Living life with no regrets
- Better to have tried and failed than never to have tried at all
- Do nothing in moderation - give your whole heart to everything that you want to try
- Going back to school at 62 and being a student again
- Don't be afraid to ask others for help
- Getting back on a plane
- Mental health and support for people going through traumatic experiences
- Raising her children
- What's next
- Being a life long learner
- Maybe writing another book
- Wanting to encourage people to live their life full throttle
- Why it's a matter of perspective
- How to connect with Sheryl
- How to buy her book
- Being happy to connect with people
- Final words of advice for women listening
- Don't be guided by your fear, be guided by the facts and the evidence - do what you feel led to do, so you don't go to your grave with any regrets.
Social Media
Website: www.sherylramstadauthor.com
Book: Living Life Full Throttle: Surviving, Serving and Summiting A Memoir