Kelly Nerdzilla Mendenhall

Kelly "Nerdzilla" Mendenhall spent her formative years in the ruins of the automobile industry in Flint, MI. A self-proclaimed recovering nonprofit professional, Kelly became suddenly medically disabled in June 2017. Her career in the nonprofit sector came to a grinding halt and she stepped into her role as author-activist. Kelly’s first book, Skin in the Game: The Stories My Tattoos Tell was published in 2019. Kelly’s mission is show the world that a diagnosis or diagnoses do not have to be the end of one’s story. There is life after spinal cord injury and neurosurgeries, especially spinal fusions. Kelly hopes to inspire others to work toward the best quality of life possible. Kelly is Senior Community Leader and a content contributor for SpineNation.