Life to the Max Podcast
Welcome to 'Life to the Max Podcast,' where resilience meets inspiration!
Join us on a transformative journey through the life stories of remarkable individuals, including Quadriplegic Army Veteran Maximilian Gross. In this empowering podcast, we dive into tales of triumph, courage, and the human spirit's unwavering ability to overcome obstacles.
Our show is a celebration of diverse narratives, from awe-inspiring achievements to the darkest of traumas. 'Life to the Max' is a testament to the power of living authentically, no matter the circumstances. We believe that everyone has a unique story worth sharing, and we invite individuals from all walks of life to join us.
Discover the profound meaning of living 'Life to the Max'—a concept that resonates differently with each storyteller. It's a journey of perspective, resilience, and finding joy amidst life's challenges. Tune in to be inspired, motivated, and reminded that there's strength in every story.
Ready to redefine what it means to live life to the fullest? Share your story with us and become a part of this uplifting community. Because, at 'Life to the Max,' every story matters.
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Life to the Max Podcast
A Crash, A Quest, and Waves of Hope: Mental Health After Tragedy
https://www.amazon.com/Just-Keep-Swimming-crash-quest/dp/1956450548
This raw, intimate conversation from the Abilities Expo in Chicago captures a powerful moment between two strangers who discover their parallel journeys through life-altering accidents, guilt, and ultimately, resilience.
Meet Cindy, a lifelong disability advocate whose world transformed when she fell asleep at the wheel, causing an accident that left her daughter quadriplegic. Max shares his own story of military service cut short when he awoke in a hospital bed after a car accident . Their conversation navigates the complex emotions of trauma—guilt, forgiveness, and the challenging path toward healing. What emerges is a beautiful testament to human adaptability and the unexpected gifts that can follow devastation.
"Serendipity" becomes the watchword of their exchange. Cindy describes how her daughter, now approaching 39, never doubted she would have a full life despite her injuries. Today, she works as a lawyer in DC and has two children whom Cindy helps raise. Meanwhile, the host finds inspiration in Cindy's journey as an author, having published "Just Keep Swimming: A Crash, A Quest, and Waves of Hope" about the first four years following the accident.
This brief but profound SpeedCast reminds us that within our most challenging moments lie seeds of unexpected growth. Whether you're facing your own life transformation or supporting someone through theirs, this conversation offers perspective on finding purpose beyond pain. Have you experienced your own moment of serendipity following hardship? We'd love to hear your story in the comments, and don't forget to subscribe for more authentic conversations that celebrate resilience in all its forms.
disability advocacy podcast, trauma recovery stories, resilience podcast, life after accident, inspirational disability stories, overcoming guilt and trauma, real-life resilience stories, podcast about life after traumatic accidents, mother and daughter disability journey, finding purpose after tragedy, healing from guilt after
#Podcast #PodcastLife #NewEpisode #RealTalk #Inspiration #Resilience #MentalHealth #DisabilityAwareness #LifeAfterTrauma #AbilitiesExpo #DisabilityAdvocate #ResilientVoices #TraumaHealing #MomStrong #MilitaryToCivilian #CarAccidentSurvivor #HealingJourney #SerendipityStory #AdaptiveLife #InvisibleWounds #DisabilitySupport #QuadriplegicJourney
What's up, guys? As you can see, we're not in the studio at home. We're actually at the Abilities Expo in Chicago, and this podcast is going to be a little different. It's going to be like a speedcast. The sound is not going to be as great because of how wide open this space is, but I hope you guys enjoy it. Please enjoy this. Life to the Max speakers. What is up, everybody? This is Life to the Max podcast and we are at the Abilities Expo in Schauburg, illinois. It is June 21st of 2025. And today I'm with Cindy, who came to the Abilities Expo. What made you come out?
Speaker 2:Well, today I'm giving a workshop today and tomorrow so I usually come to the Chicago Abilities Expo. I really love it. I know some people in the area, some even people I've mentored, so it's a fun place to be Mentored. Yeah, can you explain that a little bit? Sure, sure. Yeah, can you explain that a little bit? Sure, sure. Well, just a real quick little background is I've been a lifelong disability advocate and a mental health advocate, and this is even before I have a daughter who was in a car accident, who has a spinal cord injury. She's a quad. The car accident was in a car accident. Who has a spinal cord injury? She's a quad. The car accident was in the year 2000,. But I've been involved with the disability community long before that and it's a passion of mine. But obviously being thrown right into it in a different way with my daughter's injury kind of expanded my advocacy.
Speaker 1:It must have been terrible. I'm so sorry.
Speaker 2:Thank you, you know. Another aspect of it is I was driving and I fell asleep at the wheel, so there was a whole lot of guilt involved in the whole thing too. That's what Kind of that's what happened with me.
Speaker 1:Oh really, oh, wow. So I was in the military going up to Chicago. Yeah, it was my 20th birthday. Wow, three days after I was training, I was infantry training to be a killer ranger with the special forces. Wow, I woke up in a hospital three days later I was in the passenger seat.
Speaker 2:Yes, and my daughter was in this passenger seat. That's oh gosh, yeah. And then isn't it just how fast things change, you know.
Speaker 1:Well, the thing is, I'm trying to make amends with him still, but he won't help me. Oh, so I don't know if it's the guilty conscience, sure, or if like. Can you elaborate?
Speaker 2:with that, maybe a little Right. Well, I definitely felt so much guilt, so much guilt, and I hope that he was able to get some help with that, because I think you do need help to get beyond that, but it's great that you've reached out. I was also really fortunate that my daughter never blamed me and she was able to look at. It'll work soon it works too.
Speaker 2:Yes, yeah, yeah. I am very grateful for that. I can't imagine even how much worse it would have been if she had blamed me. But you know, we were very, very fortunate. We were in a small town in Ohio but we had so much support Our families, our friends, the schools because my husband was a teacher in the schools and it wasn't long before. There was a lot of serendipity going on that we did not expect.
Speaker 1:I just used that word in the other podcast. That's so funny.
Speaker 2:Yes, and it's a word that really fits. And it's a word that really fits and it's amazing. I think my daughter attracts it, which is also grateful for how old is your daughter. Now she's 14 in the year 2000. So she's, let's see, 84. You're going to make me think here. She's going to be 39 in April next year. Yeah, but you know she's had the most exciting life of anybody I know and I wrote a book about our adventures in the first four years after the injury.
Speaker 1:Can you explain more about your book?
Speaker 2:Yes, it's a second edition. I'm proud of it because it's not self-published. I worked really hard to have it published through traditional publishers and it's called Just Keep Swimming a crash, a quest and waves of hope.
Speaker 1:Have you always been an author?
Speaker 2:No, I've always been interested in writing and this came out just a few years ago, so it was a long time before I was even able process it or write about it or any of that. So for me there was a long mental health struggle and that's why I'm more of a mental health advocate than I've ever been and I've done a lot of speaking about mental health. I have a workshop coming up today on mental health matters and tomorrow one about insights from moms and how to support our kids, and I'm passionate about that and I'm grateful that I have these opportunities like this one to speak to you. I love people's stories and you know it's always amazing how much we have in common.
Speaker 1:Yeah, a lot. So when I first got disabled I thought I was alone, right, right, and my girlfriend left me when I was in the hospital. I'm actually happy she did, because she was the crutch, like I learned more about my life. I liked learning the life of therapy and occupational therapy and stuff, so like it was a blessing in disguise. Yeah, I'm very happy about that. I have to say I recently just started reading books about a year and a half ago and I've read 31 books since then.
Speaker 2:Yeah, Well, I'll leave this one. I mean it may be easier. Oh, I know so much the e-book perhaps.
Speaker 1:So what I do is I read the book and then I put the book on my bookshelf like a trophy. Okay, so I will definitely read your book.
Speaker 2:Great, and I'd love to hear from you after that.
Speaker 1:I'm also writing a book as well, oh good, titled Split Second, because your life can change in a split second, right?
Speaker 2:right, right. Well, and if I can be of help in any way on that process, let me know.
Speaker 1:When you said you're a mentor. I'm really trying to look for a publisher and I can't find anybody. Yeah, so maybe after the podcast I can definitely get. Can't find anyone? Yeah, so maybe after the podcast I can definitely get some insight from you. Sure, sure, I'd love to help so what is the thing you're most grateful for?
Speaker 2:Oh, my goodness, oh I'm, I'm just grateful for so many things. I have two little granddaughters right now, my daughter Beth's children. And you know, after the accident she never doubted that she was going to have a very full life and she was going to have a family, she was going to have kids in the future. But I just didn't know. You're in the hospital, you can't move After these injuries. They're so devastating and it's just such a joy. Now I'm actually one of her part-time babysitters because she works full-time. She's a lawyer in a law firm in DC and it's just been just such a gift to be with these two little girls. And one is exactly like her dad and one is exactly like my daughter, beth. And it's funny, the personalities and you're just watching these little personalities emerge every day.
Speaker 1:You know I it's a, it's wonderful like you saw in the beginning, serendipity yes, just amazing. It's an amazing word it is. It definitely is the premise of this episode of the podcast. Thank you so much for coming on, cindy. I really enjoyed speaking to you.
Speaker 2:Yeah, I love meeting you. Yeah, I hope you keep in touch.
Speaker 1:Let me know what you think about the book A hundred percent Great, and I just want to say like thank you for giving me a different insight on what my friend, my ego, is.
Speaker 2:Yes, yeah, and he still may be going through it. I mean, I think there's still times I'm still going through it, but professional help helps. Yeah.
Speaker 1:Well, for everybody listening. If you like this content, please like comment and subscribe and, as always, take a breath for me. Thank you so much. I try to keep it cool. All you lames keep it bogus. I head on a swivel looking out for the locusts.
Speaker 2:I'm on ten toes trying to top my opponents. Am I the next best thing? Well, I think I'm the closest.