Becoming Undone – Episode 136: VISION: Kijuan Amey's Journey From Tragic Accident to Resilient Recovery

Podcast Host: Dr. Toby Brooks
Guest: Kijuan (Keon) Amey
Release Date: September 19, 2025

Episode Overview

In this powerful episode, Dr. Toby Brooks sits down with Kijuan Amey—a former Air Force in-flight refueling specialist whose life was forever changed by a motorcycle accident. Kijuan lost his physical eyesight and suffered multiple devastating injuries but emerged with an indomitable spirit and a renewed "mental vision." The conversation traces his setback, the depths of his recovery, and how he reconstructed his purpose to become a motivational speaker, founder of AMEY Motivation, and author. Kijuan’s story is a testament to resilience, faith, and the choice to turn unfinished chapters into catalysts for growth.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

Kijuan’s Early Ambitions and Setbacks

• Childhood Dreams (04:32)
  • Kijuan grew up wanting to be an NFL player, with visions of success and family. His backup plan, influenced by family, was the military: “I put Army up there… I’m an Air Force retiree now.”
• Education Detour (06:08–09:42)
  • After high school in NC, a computer glitch derailed his plan to attend NC A&T for engineering—despite receiving an acceptance letter, the school had no record of him.
  • Instead of lingering in disappointment, he pivoted toward military service, influenced by his family's deep military ties: “It hurts so bad… college wasn’t the only thing. I can find another way to do it.” (10:58)

The Military Chapter and Identity

• Choosing the Air Force (13:37–17:13)
  • Negative experience with a Navy recruiter led Kijuan straight to the Air Force office. The recruiter’s approach and the institution’s offer of education clinched his decision.
  • “I didn’t even leave that building. I made a left... and went straight into the Air Force recruiter’s office. This might be the place.” (17:13)
• Success and Sudden Loss (18:55–23:27)
  • Kijuan excelled as an in-flight refueling specialist, flying midair refueling missions: “I was refueling them while they were still flying in the air. Trust me, it’s not easy.”
  • He was fast-tracked for promotion and intended to become a pilot.
  • A catastrophic motorcycle accident in 2017 upended those plans, leaving him blind, severely injured, and medically retired: “I felt forcibly retired… seemed to have really left a lot on the table.” (22:10)

The Motorcycle Accident and Aftermath

• The Incident (24:20–28:52)
  • On May 5, 2017, Kijuan was involved in a severe motorcycle accident that left him with multiple traumatic injuries.
  • The struggle of being identified in the hospital and the toll on his family are recounted: “They can’t even recognize me…all the injuries, literally from head to my right foot.” (24:20–28:52)
• Physical & Mental Recovery (30:35–46:50)
  • Woke from a medically induced coma after a month, with no sight and additional impairments, including loss of smell, speech, and use of his legs: “The same thing I see right now is the same thing I saw the day I woke up in the hospital. No eyesight.” (31:52)
  • Significant challenges included relearning how to walk and dealing with profound paranoia stemming from the loss of vision.
  • Quote: “If you don’t use it, you lose it. That is so real.” (46:24)

Redefining Vision and Finding Purpose

• Shifting Perspective (47:29–52:09)

  • Kijuan reframes his loss: “I lost the physical sight, but I didn’t lose my mental vision.” (47:43)
  • He shares stories of achieving things post-accident many never attempt—in particular, downhill skiing in Vermont with the guidance of a skilled instructor: “That instructor’s soothing voice… skiing down the slope backwards, telling me what to do.” (50:30)

• Resilience and Role Models (52:09–53:45)

  • Inspired by others (including his differently-abled father), Kijuan decides he won’t let circumstances define him: “If he [my dad] could do it, I can too…that Amey blood started kicking in.”

The Birth of AMEY Motivation & New Mission

• Inspiration and Becoming a Leader for Others (52:40–53:45)

  • “Every time I turned around, somebody was telling me how inspiring I was, how I motivated them. I’m like, ‘What did I do?’” (52:40)
  • Kijuan becomes CMO of AMEY Motivation, a platform for sharing his message and serving as an example for others.

• Faith and Mindset Shift (55:15–57:16)

  • In his hospital bed, Kijuan wrestled with his faith, repeatedly asking, “Why me?” until God answered, “Why not you?” Changing the focus from “why me” to “why not me” was pivotal.
  • Quote: “In order to have a testimony, you have to have a test… In order to have a message, you have to deal with the mess.” (56:42–56:49)
  • This transformation is the heart of his book, Don’t Focus on Why Me.

Music as Expression and Closure

• The Power of Music (58:08–60:54)
  • Kijuan’s life soundtrack would feature “He Turned It” and “Only One Night Though” by gospel artist Ty Tribbett, reflecting his journey from despair to hope:
    • “The devil thought he had me... but that’s when someone greater stepped in my situation. My moment has now begun because he turned it.” (59:10)
    • “Weeping may endure for a night, but joy comes in the morning… Cry for a night, only one night though.” (60:11)

What Remains “Undone”

• Continuing Impact (61:25–62:28)
  • Kijuan sees his journey as far from complete. The impact he hopes to have on others is still “undone”:
    • “If you forget what your why is, you forget why you are here.” (62:16)

Notable Quotes

• On losing vision but not purpose:
  “I lost the physical sight, but I didn’t lose my mental vision.” — Kijuan Amey (47:43)

• On adapting to new challenges:
  “There are things I’ve done that people who are sighted haven’t even done… I went downhill skiing last year. I’ve been blind for eight years.” — Kijuan Amey (48:52–49:22)

• On faith and overcoming ‘why me’:
  “I kept saying, ‘Why me?’ And he [God] said, ‘Well, why not you?’ … In order to have a testimony, you have to have a test.” — Kijuan Amey (55:40–56:42)

• On perseverance and unfinished business:
  “The impact… is undone. I’m nowhere near done with who I’m supposed to touch… If you forget what your why is, you forget why you are here.” — Kijuan Amey (61:25–62:16)

Timestamps for Key Segments

• [04:32] — Childhood dreams and early ambitions
• [06:08] — Education setback and pivot to military
• [13:37] — Choosing Air Force after recruiter encounter
• [18:55] — In-flight refueling and military identity
• [24:20] — Motorcycle accident and hospital experience
• [30:35] — Recovery and waking up from coma
• [41:21] — Accepting the reality of blindness
• [47:43] — On losing physical sight but keeping vision
• [50:30] — Downhill skiing and post-accident achievements
• [52:09] — Role models and stepping into motivational work
• [55:15] — Faith, “Why me”, and mindset shift
• [58:08] — Life soundtrack and music’s role
• [61:25] — Ongoing mission and what remains undone
• [63:04] — Book & contact info

How to Connect with Kijuan

• Website & Book: amymotivation.com
  • Don’t Focus on Why Me available there, and on Amazon, Audible, Kindle, and Apple Books
• Socials: Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn (@KijuanAmey)

Tone & Takeaways

Kijuan’s honesty, humor, and humility shine through as he recounts each painful setback and breakthrough. The episode is filled with practical inspiration for anyone wrestling with identity loss, purpose, or physical adversity. Listeners are left with a visceral sense of his resilience, faith, and call to serve as an example for others facing their own moments of “becoming undone.”

"The purpose, the why—we have to continue to hold to it. If you forget what your why is, you forget why you are here." — Kijuan Amey (62:16)

End of Episode 136 Summary