The Journey of a Warrior
Kijuan's story begins in Durham, NC, where his path to resilience was forged early. After graduating from Southern High School, he dedicated a decade to serving in the US Air Force, rising to the rank of Staff Sergeant as an In-flight Refueling Specialist. His military career taught him discipline and mental toughness—skills that would later become crucial in his most challenging battle.
"In the military I learned to suck it up buttercup," Kijuan reflected during our conversation. "It showed me what I was made of and how far I could push myself."
When Life Changes in an Instant
On May 5th, 2017, everything changed. A devastating motorcycle accident left Kijuan fighting for his life. He spent 1-2 months in a coma, underwent multiple surgeries from head to toe, and experienced internal bleeding. When he finally regained consciousness, he discovered he had lost his eyesight. His face was crushed, his jaw broken and wired shut—leaving him unable to speak or see.
"I panicked due to the lack of my ability to communicate," Kijuan shared. "This was my rock bottom."
The once-independent military professional could not bathe or feed himself. "When I could not bathe or feed myself, I was humbled," he admits. It was a profound lesson in vulnerability that would reshape his entire perspective.
Finding Light in Darkness
What makes Kijuan's story so powerful isn't just what happened to him—it's what he did next.
"My turning point was getting out of my head," he explained. "I had many thoughts constantly going in my head."
The road to recovery wasn't travelled alone. Kijuan emphasised the incredible support system that rallied around him. His family stood by him, and his military colleagues demonstrated extraordinary solidarity. In one touching example, when Kijuan needed to vacate his rental home, 15 soldiers arrived and moved his entire household in just 30 minutes.
"Incredible how they pulled together to help me," Kijuan remarked, the gratitude evident in his voice.
Real Talk About Resilience
During our conversation, Kijuan provided a refreshingly honest definition of resilience: "Resilience is how we bounce back literally, emotionally, and physically. The harder part can be the mental component."
His advice comes from lived experience and cuts through the usual platitudes:
Kijuan addressed head-on the barriers that often prevent people, especially veterans, from seeking mental health support: "What stops us? Pride, shame, and the stigma that mental health is weakness, and we can be looked at differently when we have challenges here."
The gravity of this reluctance to seek help is underscored by a sobering statistic he shared: "There are 22+ active and veteran soldiers committing suicide a day."
Transformation Through Authenticity
Through his darkest moments, Kijuan discovered unexpected gifts. While he lost a relationship during his recovery, he has since found "a much better, authentic relationship" with his new partner. He speaks highly of his "amazing therapist", who helps him develop strategies to move forward.
As Kijuan powerfully states: "I may have lost my sight, but I did not lose my vision."
The Catalyst for Change
Today, Kijuan serves as the former vice president for the Carolina regional group of the Blinded Veterans Association and as a mentor and ambassador for the Air Force Wounded Warriors program. He's founded Amey Motivation LLC and is preparing to release his book, "Don't Focus on Why Me."
With 25 years of drumming expertise and experience in on-stage acting, Kijuan brings creativity and dynamism to his role as a motivational speaker. Whether he's addressing crowds of 1,500 or working one-on-one, his message resonates deeply because it comes from authentic experience.
Kijuan Amey isn't just telling others how to overcome adversity—he's living proof that it's possible to bend without breaking, to find new purpose amid devastating loss, and to transform personal pain into a mission that serves others.
Connect with Kijuan
Visit: www.ameymotivation.com
Facebook: www.facebook.com/kijuanamey
Instagram: www.instagram.com/kijuanamey
LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/kijuan-amey-783889121
Work with Amanda
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