Flying to New Heights: Kegan’s Story Part 2

An HHP Alum reflects on his journey, the psychedelics for veterans movement and how sharing his story takes healing to new heights

It has been three years since my life was profoundly transformed by the Heroic Hearts Project. During this time, I have navigated a path that diverged sharply from the desperate nosedive I experienced as my mental, physical, and spiritual health spiraled out of control due to PTSD and traumatic brain injury (TBI) sustained during my military service as a naval aviator. Conventional mental health treatments, primarily psychotropic medications, only exacerbated my condition. In contrast, the eye-opening, mind-expanding experiences provided by indigenous medicine have been profoundly healing.

In 2014, I miraculously survived the fastest ejection in naval aviation history when I ejected from an out-of-control F/A-18E Super Hornet at 695 mph. I awoke from a two-week coma, paralyzed and confused, having endured a severe TBI, a broken neck, and extensive damage to my limbs and nerves. I was fortunate to be alive.

The prognosis was grim. Medical staff informed me that I would likely never walk or use my arms again, and my flying career was over. Yet, after two years of over a dozen surgeries and grueling rehabilitation, I overcame prescription drug addiction, obtained medical waivers, and returned to the cockpit of the F/A-18 as an active-duty strike fighter pilot.

However, despite these achievements, I eventually faced the lingering effects of TBI and a delayed onset PTSD diagnosis. My mental health deteriorated, leading to my medical retirement. I continued conventional treatments through the VA, but the root cause of my ailments, TBI, was largely ignored.

As my medication dosage increased, my life unraveled into deep psychosis. I spent 40 days in a VA inpatient psychiatric facility, where I witnessed the abysmal treatment of veterans and endured additional trauma, leaving me with a profound sense of betrayal from the government I had served. Anger, resentment, and a desire for vengeance consumed me, while alcohol and cannabis clouded my mind as I sought relief through self-medication.

On the verge of divorce and estranged from my young children, I hit rock bottom. I faced a
choice: end my life or seek a different path. That path led me to a holistic approach to healing. Through Michael Pollan’s book “How to Change Your Mind,” I discovered psychedelic-assisted therapy. Despite skepticism from my medical providers and family, I knew I had to try something different and reached out to nonprofits for help. Heroic Hearts Project saved my life. My profound experience with ayahuasca through Heroic Hearts Project reignited my sense of purpose and offered me a new perspective on life. I felt reconnected to something greater than myself. The indigenous medicine reset me at my core, allowing me to build a new version of myself.

Heroic Hearts’ integration program connected me with Moose, a former SEAL from The Wisdom Dojo meditation program, to help me establish my own meditation practice. Initially skeptical, I realized that SEALs wouldn’t waste their time on something ineffective. The combination of indigenous medicine and meditation became a powerful tool for cultivating a state of loving awareness and consistent happiness. The Wisdom Dojo merges the shamanic path to enlightenment with the yogic path of meditation. Ayahuasca revealed the view from the mountaintop, making the journey of building a meditation practice more intuitive and accelerating progress. By living in the present moment with an open heart, I began to witness positive changes in my life.

The reset provided by my experience with Heroic Hearts also inspired me to further improve my lifestyle choices. I adopted a diet rich in whole foods, drank clean water, eliminated alcohol and cannabis, and limited my caffeine intake to one cup of coffee a day. After reading Dr. Matthew Walker’s “Why We Sleep,” I recognized that restful sleep is foundational to health. I learned practical ways to enhance my sleep through 62 Romeo, an online program designed for veterans and first responders created by former SEAL Rob Sweetman. As my sleep improved, my healing accelerated.

Thanks to the generosity of Eleanor and Clay Womack, I received further TBI treatment at ATX Hyperbarics and West Lake Medical Arts in Austin, Texas. A month of regular hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT) combined with a deep dive into my physiology proved incredibly effective for healing TBI

The Transcend Foundation, run by veterans Ernie Colling and Brendan Quisenberry, provided access to continued preventative medicine, including nutraceutical supplementation and peptides to optimize my health. Over time, I transitioned from recovery to thriving health. It’s frustrating to realize that nearly every modality that aided my recovery is unavailable through the VA, Tricare, or other insurance providers. Fortunately, the network of nonprofit organizations continues to grow, filling the gaps that leave countless Americans suffering in a dysfunctional medical system.

As I embarked on this new path, my life began to unfold beautifully. While challenges remained, I learned to view difficult situations as lessons rather than punishments. With time, I rebuilt my relationship with my wife and restored a deep bond with my children. Although my mindset shifted dramatically after ayahuasca, it took time for my life to align with my healing. In the summer of 2024, I stood alongside Heroic Hearts Project founder Jesse Gould and a remarkable group of veterans united in our advocacy for the legalization of MDMA-assisted therapy for treating PTSD. Despite compelling studies demonstrating that MDMA is significantly more effective than any PTSD treatment currently available in the United States, the FDA voted to keep MDMA classified as a Schedule I narcotic. This designation implies that it has no accepted medical use and is considered highly addictive.

While I was not surprised by this decision, given the FDA’s ties to the pharmaceutical industry, which profits immensely from keeping people dependent on conventional treatments, I felt a deep sense of frustration. A therapy that can facilitate healing in just a few sessions does not align with the business model of an industry that thrives on chronic illness.

Despite this setback, the fight for access to psychedelic-assisted therapy in the land of the free continues. We remain steadfast in our belief that healing should not be hindered by outdated regulations or corporate interests. Together, we will keep pushing for change, advocating for the rights of those who suffer and seeking the transformative therapies that can truly make a difference.

Indigenous medicine taught me the importance of sharing my story to help others escape the darkness I once faced. A few years back I began writing, driven by a desire to serve others. Though I was not a writer and knew little about publishing, I found writing to be a cathartic process. By reliving my traumatic experiences in vivid detail, I was able to process and accept what had happened. My laptop became my therapist. After nine months of consistent effort, I completed a 60,000-word rough draft of my memoir, “Phoenix Revival: The Aftermath of Naval Aviation’s Fastest Survived Ejection.”

Over the next couple of years, I navigated the publishing process, seeking advice from friends who had written books and researching online. I am excited to announce that “Phoenix Revival” has become a reality. Not only does it recount my extraordinary journey, but it also equips readers with practical tools and resources to apply to their own lives. I hope it reaches everyone struggling in silence.

As my book releases, I find myself naturally stepping into the role of a motivational speaker, meditation coach, and psychedelic-assisted therapy facilitator, and building an online coaching business to support others in need. Though this new chapter is still in its infancy, it has been deeply rewarding. To become the best version of myself, I had to confront harsh lessons along the way, and I am grateful for those experiences. Rather than adopting a victim mentality, I choose to embrace loving awareness. Humanity is evolving toward love, and we each have the power to make that choice. We are amidst a peaceful revolution to reclaim our health and evolve as a society. You can be the captain of your own ship if you’re ready to take the helm.