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
College, Creativity, and Cerebral Palsy: Mikaylah's Journey
Stepping away from our studio setting, we're bringing you a special "speedcast" from the bustling Abilities Expo in Chicago where we met Mikaylah, a remarkable young woman navigating life with dystonic cerebral palsy while pursuing her dreams.
Mikaylah, a creative writing major at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, offers a candid glimpse into her world. She manages her condition with a deep brain stimulator (a device similar to a pacemaker but connected to her brain) and medication regimens. What stands out immediately is her matter-of-fact approach to these medical realities – they're simply part of her daily experience, not limitations that define her potential.
When our conversation turns to literature, Mikaylah's passion ignites. She recommends "Unmasked" by Kendra Merritt, praising how the author authentically incorporates disability into fantasy fiction. This representation matters deeply to Mikaylah's, who notes the scarcity of disabled characters in the books she encountered growing up. Now, she's crafting her own stories, adding her voice to this essential narrative space. The most revealing moment comes when she shares a troubling high school incident – administrators placed her service dog's photo on her student ID instead of her own picture, a dehumanizing error that speaks volumes about how society often fails to see disabled individuals as complete persons.
Michaela's parting wisdom resonates deeply: "Just keep living. Life goes on. Life is precious. You only get one." Connect with us on social media, share your thoughts, and subscribe to hear more stories that challenge perspectives and celebrate the full spectrum of human experience.
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 please enjoy this lifetime the Max Speedcast.
Speaker 1:What is up, everybody? It is Life to the Max Podcast. We are at the Abilities Expo in Schaumburg, illinois. It is Friday, june 20th, and today I have Michaela with me. She is just about to turn 20 years old and we're going to learn a little bit about her.
Speaker 2:I am currently going into my junior year of college at the University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign Great school. I'm majoring in creative writing and in terms of myself, like what do you want to know?
Speaker 1:Well, tell me, were you born like this?
Speaker 2:Yes, I was Well what do you have? I have dystonic cerebral palsy. I currently use a deep brain simulator. It's in my chest and then it's like a pacemaker. It only goes up to my brain and not to my heart, and then just a lot of meds?
Speaker 1:Oh, me too. Yeah, I admire your strength, I really do. And to go to college like that's so amazing. You just persevere pretty much. Yeah, I love that. Um, what are you going to school for?
Speaker 2:creative writing, um so novels, and then fiction, fantasy okay, cool.
Speaker 1:So what's one of your favorite?
Speaker 2:books um, it has to be Unmasked by Kendra Merritt never. I've never read that she's a pretty like small author, but she incorporates several disability aspects into her books, which I love.
Speaker 1:Yeah, so what got you into that?
Speaker 2:What got me into it. So I was just looking up books on Google search and her first book, binding of a Chair, came up and like it was a good book, like it was a good book, like it was a good read, yeah, and like you don't really get that as a like disabled person, like going through at school, you don't get a lot of that exposure that anyone else normally would get, like I'm sorry.
Speaker 1:I just really admire like that you're able to like really seize the day, go out and you're going to school and I like a very good school. Might I say it's the best engineering school in the country. Oh so I know a lot of people who have graduated from there. I'm actually 29 and I'm so sorry. I'm older than you. I'm excited to see what you have coming in the future with your writing.
Speaker 2:Yeah, actually so am I. I'm currently workshopping stuff right now. Most of it's just odds and ends Stuff. Pop into my head, I'll write it down.
Speaker 1:Can I ask you a question? Yeah, go ahead. What is the toughest thing that you've ever been through in your life Event?
Speaker 2:Okay. So there were several events in my high school where, um, right, I put up with it for most of the time because what else can you do? You should put up with it, call it a day. Um. But the main thing that really sort of broke me was my id came back in and usually like I'll take your photo, right, I'll give my dog your photo, because it wasn't an issue then, so why would it be now? And the ID came back and the ID was her photo, my dog's photo, on my ID.
Speaker 1:Not your photo.
Speaker 2:On my ID with my name. On it had the dog's photo.
Speaker 1:Did they fix that?
Speaker 2:No, actually they gave me back my old ID, but with a new, um I knew, uh sort of like tag for the year.
Speaker 1:What's your school saying?
Speaker 2:Hoffman State High School.
Speaker 1:Hoffman State High School. Hey, hoffman State High School, you guys suck okay. You guys really do suck okay. Next time maybe you should uh should apply some manners to this young lady.
Speaker 2:What's ironic is that it went through three different hands before it ever got to me.
Speaker 1:Yeah, that is messed up. It is yeah, but anyway, I'm going to make sure I tag Hoffman Estates High School in this. So they can hear me say to them that they can screw off for doing that to you. That is messed up Okay, it really is and they need to be more kind and nice to people who are going through the struggles that you're going through.
Speaker 2:I think I fixed most of the issues with that school all of my junior year there, but I would appreciate that.
Speaker 1:Yeah, Like I said, I admire you and what you've gone through. I can't believe that's the hardest thing a picture.
Speaker 2:A picture, well, I mean in my recent memory, yeah, that probably would be, but in terms of, like, overall mobility-wise, like when it comes to my mobility, that probably would be, but in terms of overall mobility-wise, when it comes to my mobility, I go through the day, I'm going out, I'm chilling out. Mobility is what it is. I'm not going to. This is my life.
Speaker 1:You realize, there's so much scientific, there's so much medical advancement going on in the future. This isn't your life. Okay, remember that. This is your life right now. Okay, it's not your life. I'm good. I say the same thing to myself yeah, because we live in a very good time right now.
Speaker 2:Yeah, agreed. Actually, the DDS I currently have in the I got it in like I was like it was like fifth grade right. I got DDS put in. That was also weird because it was brain surgery, so it's like I've never done it.
Speaker 1:So there's a second person that told me they have brain surgery today. I've only been here, so you're the second person that told me they have brain surgery today. I've only been here for like three hours.
Speaker 2:I'm actually surprised, Like it's pretty common.
Speaker 1:Like for me. It's common. I'm sure Are these your sisters.
Speaker 2:One of my sisters and one of my friends.
Speaker 1:I'm sure your sisters and friends are very happy you're still here. I'm happy they see you as a person, Because a lot of people when they see a wheelchair they don't see them as a person. That's messed up, but that's a beautiful thing. I'm happy you have a great support system. Is there anything inspiring, anything you would want to say out there to the people of Liftoff Acts?
Speaker 2:Just keeping, you keep living. Life goes on.
Speaker 1:Life is precious. Yeah, you only get one Agreed. Yeah, and it seems like you got a nice doggie here with you. Yeah, and I'm happy you're able to live life to the max in your way and thank you so much for coming on. Yes, for everybody listening. Please like, comment and subscribe to Spend Life to the Max podcast and I'll take your breath from it, thank you.