Charged: The Eduardo Garcia Story

Year: 2017

Duration: 86 min

Chef Eduardo Garcia was living the dream. His love of adventure and the outdoors helped build him a successful career traveling the world as a chef on private yachts. Surfing, climbing, wake boarding, and fishing, Eduardo took full advantage of his time off the boats. After 10 years, ready to get back into the mountains, he returned home to Montana to start a food company and reconnect with his family. It was in those mountains, on an autumn day in 2011, that everything changed. While out on a solo hunting expedition, Eduardo came across a dead bear. Curious, he got out his knife to investigate, and in a bizarre incident, was shocked with 2400 volts of electricity. Near death, alone, and miles from help, Eduardo got up and took the first steps towards what would ultimately be years of recovery and rehabilitation. When Eduardo arrived at Salt Lake City's Burn Trauma ICU, doctors said he was a dead man with a heartbeat. During the course of his recovery, Eduardo spent 48 days in the ICU. He had nine severe exit wounds and underwent 21 surgeries, which included the removal of four ribs and destroyed muscle mass from his torso, legs, arms, and scalp. Doctors tried to save Eduardo's left hand, but, when it came to life or limb, they amputated the chef's hand and forearm. While in the ICU, still fighting to keep his heartbeat going, Eduardo was dealt another shock: he had Stage 2 testicular cancer. Pending surgeries were put on hold and he returned to Montana to begin aggressive chemotherapy. Months before the incident, Eduardo's long-term girlfriend, Jennifer Jane, left him after finding out Eduardo had been unfaithful to her for most of their relationship. Still struggling with the knowledge that Eduardo was not the man she thought he was, Jen sidelined her own recovery and immediately flew from England to be by his side after his injury. Jen became his primary caregiver-spending 24 hours a day in the ICU, documenting the initial months with her camera, and supporting him through his recovery as those months turned into years. From the moment Eduardo's eyes opened on that forest floor, he never doubted he would live. Back home in Montana, armed with his new prosthetic hook, Eduardo turns to the outdoors for the solace and inspiration he needs to rebuild his life. All of the sudden, at 30 years old, he has to re-learn every single task. From the seemingly simple ones, like tying his shoe or cutting up an onion, to the never simple ones like fly fishing or shooting a bow, Eduardo starts learning to live life as an amputee. His physical recovery dwarfs all expectations, and he comes back stronger than before his injury. He goes from being a guy who was told he'd never do a pull-up again to successfully completing numerous triathlons. He becomes an athlete and speaker for the Challenged Athletes Foundation, and by all outward appearances is back to the happy, confident Eduardo he was prior to the injury. His physical recovery, though, just scratches the surface of the journey that started when he got to his knees and decided to make it out of the forest and live. Another layer of healing unfolds as Eduardo processes the emotions of dealing with his injury and struggles to sort out his changed relationships with Jen and his family. Jen, his former lover, continues to be Eduardo's primary caregiver. Their relationship, however, becomes increasingly complicated. Tied together through tragedy and business ventures, their lives remain entwined even as it becomes clear that they do not have a future as a couple. Growing up without a father, being kicked out of nine schools, and using drugs and alcohol beginning in his early teens, Eduardo had a troubled childhood. His family, however nontraditional, remains intact and their support is invaluable in his recovery. His father, Manuel, a man he didn't meet until he was thirteen, is now gravely ill and Eduardo has become his caregiver. The parallels between the life of the father and son are undeniable, but the lessons it took Manuel a lifetime to learn are now in Eduardo's hand and his hook has given him the opportunity to take a more selfless look at his life well before the end of his days. Eduardo says he would never go back. The man who walked into those woods never came out. The man he is today, the man he is becoming, was born out of all the experiences brought on by life. The single experience of touching that dead bear simply allowed him to gain new perspective on all his life experiences, revealing the ever-present opportunity to change himself. Charged is a survivor story, the survival of a man, his family, and a loving friendship. More than just surviving, Eduardo learned to build stronger relationships and a better life after tragedy. It is about a journey that never ends, in which you are not on alone and each challenging day brings you closer to finding your best self so you can live life fully "charged."

Genre: Action   Adventure   Biography   Documentary