Help Nico Barraza Soar After Five Surgeries

Nico Barraza is organizing this fundraiser.

Donation protected

Help Me Soar After Five Shoulder Surgeries

Hi, my name is Nico Barraza. Many of you may know me from my podcast, Starve the Ego Feed the Soul, the endurance sports community, my work as a counselor, or perhaps through my Instagram, @FeedTheSoulNB. Today, I’m reaching out for your support to help fulfill my dream of becoming a pilot — a goal I’ve held onto through challenges that most wouldn’t anticipate, including a series of five shoulder surgeries.

My journey has been profoundly shaped by my commitment to service, resilience, and a love of adventure. A botched shoulder surgery in 2020 set off a cascade of medical complications that altered my life. I’ve since invested my life savings into countless surgeries, therapies, and treatments, always believing in the possibility of regaining the freedom and strength to achieve my dream. Your support will help me make this dream a reality by covering flight school costs and allowing me to pursue my passion without the burden of crushing debt.

My Journey So Far

In 2019, I was a full-time endurance athlete and faced an unexpected injury after a serious cycling accident. After some recovery, I decided to pursue military flight school and Officer Candidate School with the Arizona Army National Guard. I consulted a shoulder surgeon who assured me that a procedure would bring my shoulder back to optimal condition. Instead, it left me with irreversible damage. After that initial surgery, my life turned upside down.

Since 2020, I’ve endured one complication after another as a result of that procedure. My coracoid fractured, leading to chronic pain, severely altered mechanics, and the loss of many of the activities that defined my life. Moving to San Diego, I found a sports surgeon with experience in high-level athletics, hoping to find the answers I desperately needed. However, after three surgeries that included the removal of my fractured coracoid and the cutting of a healthy biceps tendon, I was left with more limitations and no clear solutions.

My fifth and most recent surgery was at the Steadman Clinic in Vail, Colorado. Despite their expertise, the challenges introduced by previous procedures made it difficult to repair the lingering issues. I still have work to do to improve, but I’m now at a point where flying — a freedom that brings me a renewed sense of life — is possible once again.

Why Flight School?

To me, flying represents a freedom I once found in running, climbing, and skiing in the mountains. I’m 25 hours into my journey toward my Private Pilot’s License, and every moment in the air has reaffirmed how much this means to me. As the first person in my family to fly a plane, the opportunity to complete my training as a professional aviator feels like the culmination of a lifelong dream. But flight school comes at a substantial financial cost, one that is difficult to meet after years of medical expenses.

Giving Back Through Aviation

As a counselor, I’ve always made it a priority to provide accessible services to those in need, often working on a sliding scale for single parents, students, and those from under-resourced communities. This ethos of service is something I intend to carry forward as a pilot. My goal is not only to complete my training but also to earn certifications that will allow me to teach others how to fly. I hope to inspire young people from diverse backgrounds to see aviation as something within reach and offer low-cost, if not free, flight instruction.

After completing flight school, I envision returning to the schools I grew up in, introducing young people from all walks of life to the world of aviation. I want to give back to my community by offering flight experiences and training opportunities that make aviation accessible to all, especially those who may never have believed it was possible.

How You Can Help

Every dollar raised will go directly toward flight training, instructor fees, plane rentals, and equipment. This includes completing my Private Pilot’s License, Instrument Rating, Commercial Rating, Multi-Engine Rating, Certified Flight Instructor (CFI) rating, and Certified Flight Instructor Instrument (CFII) rating.

This journey has required resilience, patience, and faith, and I’m closer than ever to making it a reality. Your support means the world to me, whether you’re able to donate or simply share my story.

Thank you for helping me reach new heights and fulfill my dream of serving from the skies.

With deep gratitude,

Nico Barraza

Listen to episodes of Starve the Ego Feed the Soul and learn more about my story here: https://open.spotify.com/episode/46d6Lh1vwR6I05A5engwN9?si=ZkU0_J63RGSV-H-afMTmTQ

https://open.spotify.com/episode/4FqIF1HY7dBLAn1JQWF7cu?si=TAAdexqgQ5KyOWCtsq_PMw

September 23, 2020 Day Before My First Surgery

X-Ray showing the severe changes after surgery 1 through 4. You can see the tip of my clavicle that was resected causing more instability. The end of my coracoid is also missing and you can see the over-reduction of my clavicle.