#GRAUSTRONG: Rising Through Heartache, Hope, and Love

When life tests us with unimaginable challenges, we discover capacities for strength and resilience we never knew we had. Megan Grau's story embodies this truth in ways that will leave you speechless, inspired, and perhaps forever changed.

On a single day in May 2020, while the world grappled with pandemic uncertainty, Megan's world shattered: her husband Mike was diagnosed with stage four bladder cancer, her brother was hospitalized with kidney failure, and her mother entered hospice care. Within weeks, her mother passed away, and doctors delivered the devastating news that Mike had just six months to a year to live, followed by even more tragedies and loss. 

But the Grau family refused to stay down as they pursued every traditional and alternative treatment they could find. Megan boldly advocated for her husband. "I care about saving my husband." She lovingly cared for her family as they faced terrible life events all at the same time. 

What makes this story truly remarkable is how Megan found transformation amid tragedy. At 48, she left a 15-year career at a law firm to pursue real estate, studying for exams in hospital waiting rooms while Mike underwent surgeries. Their son Turner's college baseball career became a bright spot through the darkness, with Mike defying his prognosis to attend games throughout Turner's four years at Youngstown State and fifth year at Pitt.

The overwhelming support from their community – 500 people attending a fundraiser, meals delivered for two years, strangers appearing with gifts – reminds us of humanity's capacity for compassion. 

Through it all, Megan discovered the power of intentional positivity, manifesting hope even on the hardest days while still allowing space for grief and fear when necessary.

Whatever challenges you're facing, Megan's story serves as a powerful reminder: you are stronger than you think. By sharing her ongoing journey, she offers not just inspiration but practical wisdom for finding purpose, connection, and even joy amid life's most profound difficulties.

The book Megan has now read multiple times is 

"Manifest: 7 Steps to Living Your Best Life" by Roxie Nafousi 👉 thrivingyinzers.com/toolkit.

Chapters

• 0:00 Introduction to Megan's Story
• 8:41 The Day Everything Changed
• 16:10 Coping with Multiple Family Crises
• 29:18 Turner's College Journey
• 35:45 Finding Strength Through Mindfulness
• 40:55 Community Support and Giving Back

Transcript

Sherry Ehrin: 0:00

Welcome back to This is It! by Thriving Yinzers. These are heavy times for our country and our world, but while we all keep searching for a better way forward, life doesn't stop throwing challenges individually. It still tests families in profound ways, like cancer, loss and unthinkable struggles no one should have to endure, and each of us is learning how to balance what we carry with the determination to keep moving forward, with hope for where we are headed. That's why today's conversation is so important.

Sherry Ehrin: 0:34

Our guest, Megan Grau, wanted to come on and share her story, not because it's easy, but because she knows that by speaking openly about what she's gone through and continues to endure, that she might be able to help someone else who feels the pain of life's hardest moments. Megan's story is a reminder that you are stronger than you think. This is an act of courage and of generosity, and it reminds us that even in the hardest places, there can be healing, hope and even growth. This podcast is about the basic idea that this is it, and we go through things and sometimes we grow through things. Part of our mission is to connect listeners with resources and people who may be able to help get through harder times and also share experiences of people who have gone through and are going through some stuff.

Sherry Ehrin: 1:31

Resilience yeah, our general cadence is Jodi and I talking about a certain topic, and then maybe a provider, professional or resource, and also just people getting through their shit. So we appreciate that you wanted to come on and talk with us, and so we're going to jump right in, if you're ready. Life for everyone changed in 2020 in big ways, and while we were figuring everything out, with the events that we all went through in 2020, you and your family really went through the ringer. Can you paint a picture for us? Maybe? What was life like before 2020? And then we'll get into what has gone on since.

Megan Grau: 2:15

Well, thanks for having me. I appreciate it. I'm excited to kind of give you a overcast of our family and what we've been through. So yeah, in 2020, before that, life was great. Life is still great. I'm not saying life is not great, it was great. You know, we really really had a life like everybody else did. Really, we have fantastic family and friends. We entertained our son. We went to the majority of every single sport event that he ever had football, baseball, basketball. He graduated in 2019 from Admirth High School and ended up going to Youngstown State for college for baseball. We were really busy with all of that and I think it was pretty normal until it wasn't.

Sherry Ehrin: 2:57

From the outside, it looked picture perfect. Everything was going really well. Your son, turner, appeared to be following in his dad's footsteps. You mentioned your son's sports history, and your husband, Mike, is also quite the legend when it comes to his achievements there.

Megan Grau: 3:15

The number was retired. There's lots of jerseys on the wall but his number was actually retired back in 1988. On senior night we surprised Mike and Turner ran out onto the field and we unretired his jersey and I ordered a jersey for him and it was a really special evening and he played under 22 for his senior night at the home field and that was a really special moment.

Megan Grau: 3:38

But yeah, he's been retired since 1988.

Sherry Ehrin: 3:41

I'm sure that meant so much to you.

Megan Grau: 3:43

It did, it really did, and on the precipice of what was to happen, it was really something special now looking back at it, even more so than we thought.

Jodi Chestnut: 3:51

Sure, let's talk about that. Can you explain how things unfolded there?

Megan Grau: 3:57

So one day my husband used the restroom and he just commented hey, you know, I think there's blood in my urine or no, maybe it's, maybe it's just, maybe it's dark, Maybe I'm dehydrated. And I said, well, yeah, drink water. We went along with our day In the evening. You know I'm kind of a medical savvy person. I said, hey, let me look. And I was shocked. It was completely red and I said, well, that's blood. And I said I'm pretty shocked also that you're colorblind.

Megan Grau: 4:32

I immediately called our PCP, who I know very well, and he had Mike go in the next day and, begrudgingly, Mike went. He thought I was being overcautious and being Megan and the doctor said, well, Megan's really good at medical stuff, so let's take a look. So in fact he did have blood in his urine. So the next day he went into it was two days later he went into the hospital just to get an ultrasound. They were thinking a stone, they were thinking infection, bladder UTI, something, even though he was having zero symptoms of any of that. And that will kind of flow into that fateful day. It's COVID. So obviously I wasn't able to be with him during this procedure. I was at home and the PCP called me and said Megan, go to the emergency room right now. And I said well, he's, I think he's just done with his ultrasound and he's going to be coming home. He said he can't come home, Megan, this isn't good. We found it's a, it's a mass in his bladder. So I had to call him over the phone and tell him he needs to go to the emergency room immediately.

Megan Grau: 5:30

And that's where it all kind of just went, pretty chaotic, you know, throughout that day. I think it was May 17th, I knew it was in May, but I didn't know the exact date because it's just kind of a blind time for me. At the same time I got a phone call that my mother was also in the same emergency room. She had been battling for many years a whole host of medical situations and problems and whatnot. So I got on my family thread like you know, everybody does, they get on a family thread with my brothers and we were talking about mom.

Megan Grau: 6:06

And then we talked about mike being in the emergency room and my brother troy said no, no, no, mike's not in the er. I am. Both my brothers said what are you talking about? No, mike is in the er. He said are you kidding me? He said I'm in the ER as well, I'm at AGH, and Mike and my mom were at Passavant and and I said well, what are you in for? And he said my kidney failed. He had a kidney transplant the year before and he was in dire straits. So at that moment, within probably 35, 45 minutes, our entire lives changed, Every one of us. A month later, my mom passed away and my brother lost both his legs and my husband was diagnosed with stage four bladder cancer.

Sherry Ehrin: 7:01

Jeez, okay, that's more than a lot and just unfathomable. .

Megan Grau: 7:07

It was definitely probably the worst day of my life, quite frankly.

Jodi Chestnut: 7:14

Sure, getting information like that close together is hard enough - All at the same day, at the same time it's hard to wrap your head around.

Megan Grau: 7:20

uh, yeah, it was very chaotic. It felt very chaotic at moments when it was also super upsetting because I couldn't be anywhere with any of my family. It was COVID. They weren't letting you in, so I just had to sit at home and wait. I got updated, so I got news and, yeah, that was very difficult, but I have great family as well.

Sherry Ehrin: 7:42

I was going to ask you how, with so much stacked on top of each other, how you even take a step forward? But now that you say it was even during COVID and to sit in that stillness is, I don't even know how you even do that.

Megan Grau: 8:00

Yeah, covid was obviously awful, but we were navigating so much during this time and for the whole many years still are. That was one of the hardest things not to be able to be there and be supportive and physically present with your husband and your mother and your brother. So that was extremely difficult, but it is what it is. At that point there was nothing I could do, so I just prayed and I just stayed focused.

Sherry Ehrin: 8:35

then what do you do after that?

Sherry Ehrin: 8:35

Megan Grau Guest - After that, unfortunately, my husband was set up to a biopsy then , I guess about a week and a half later he had it and the doctor came in and said it didn't look good. I was the only one they allowed me into the waiting room for his procedure for that and the doctor, just you know we were trying to figure out why, why this happened, why him? He was 50 years old and in perfect health and never did a drug, just drank beer. He was just worked out, he was epitome of health. And why all of a sudden? And he asked me a couple of questions about family history and whatnot, and none of it correlated. And then he just said well, this is going to be a real crappy thing to say to you, but unfortunately bad things happen to good people and this is what is happening right now. So at that time again, covid.

Sherry Ehrin: 9:23

So I was starting to sign my mother into hospice, in-home hospice at her home. So it was my mother and I and my father and the hospice intern lady. We're going through all what it is and my husband called me kind of out of the blue, because he knew I was there. I was shocked. He called me and I said, mom, I have to answer, excuse me. And he said I already got the results back. They called me and it went through the bladder wall into my lymph nodes and into certain areas. So he's like I'm going to lose my entire bladder and it's not good, as I was signing my mother up for hospice. Oh no, and it was a very emotional time. Obviously. A mother and my father grew up with my husband. He was both my brother's best friend growing up and our families were extremely close, so it was gut-wrenching for them as well. And that poor hospice lady was like a deer in headlights. I swear yeah, she was.

Sherry Ehrin: 10:19

I'm sure is this really happening.

Megan Grau: 10:20

Yeah. She said do you want to stop this? We can reconvene in a better day. And I said no, my mother needs this right now. So we're going to go through with this and be here for her. So that's what I did and unfortunately she passed away a week later, so it didn't seem real at the time. Really, I don't even know how I processed my mother's passing during that time, because she was such an amazing woman and a huge, huge part of my life and my family's lives, obviously. But I like to tell myself I don't think she could have bared seeing what was going on with him and my brother and everything that was about to unfold. So I think she just thought I'll be better served up above.

Sherry Ehrin: 10:58

Yeah, we don't understand why sometimes that's what you have to look for and that's what you have to hold on to. Exactly. That's heavy, and I am trying to piece it all together. Honestly, I really am still trying to process just what you're saying. Yeah, how do you? I? Mean it's been Since 2020. We're in 2025.

Megan Grau: 11:21

Five years.

Sherry Ehrin: 11:21

Five years. So in those five years, what has gone on on the day to day?

Megan Grau: 11:27

On a daily basis. At first it was extremely intense and extremely hard. We just were faithful, extremely positive. We're just positive people. At some point, a couple months later, he was given six months to a year to live and we were told to get our affairs in order, needed to tell our family and whatnot that whole conversation which we weren't really expecting to have, nor did we want that timeline or want to know the timeline. Sure, when that happened, I think it's flipped a switch in us, so to speak, Like no absolutely not.

Megan Grau: 12:03

You don't know who you're messing with. Yeah, we're going to do everything we can. We're going to do traditional medicine and traditional treatments, and we did. We have a fantastic oncologist. We were starting to come to him with alternative treatments that we were researching and that we wanted to try and one being the infrared sauna, one being RSO and some other medications from a doctor out in California and not begrudging him whatsoever, but he is a doctor. They're very statistical based. He was listening and he said I just don't know. We won't know what's working. Or if anything's working, we don't know which one it is. So the statistics will be skewed. And I just looked at him and I said I'm not trying to be rude, but I don't really care about your statistics.

Megan Grau: 12:48

I care about saving my husband and it sounds weird, but I looked him in the face and I said you work for us and we're telling you what we're doing. You just have to help navigate it with us and we just want to let you know we're not going to try to hide anything from you, us and we just want to let you know we're not going to try to hide anything from you. And from that point on he just opened up and really, really listened to us and then realized the type of people that my husband and I are. Yeah, that's amazing. And he worked with us.

Megan Grau: 13:15

The one medication that the doctor in California put him on. It didn't work and it almost killed his liver and he didn't chastise for it. All the other things that we've been doing alternatively, in addition to chemo, radiation, immunotherapy surgery, he now looks at us like God, you people are amazing. Yeah, is he looking to you for your? What's next? They're actually looking to they might have already I'm not sure to purchase the red light, the medical grade red light infrared sauna that we have that Mike uses every day for treatment in their wellness center at Hillman. Oh see.

Jodi Chestnut: 13:50

Wonderful, that's amazing. So I mean, not only are you saving your husband, you guys are giving back. Everything you're doing is for the next people right.

Megan Grau: 14:06

Yeah, we talked to so many people at Hillman every time we're there just to give them some hope, because it's a really hopeless feeling when you're there, pretty frustrating feeling. I get very frustrated when I'm there At cancer itself not with people, right, of course. But yeah, it flipped a switch in us and we found that out and we said absolutely not, we won't accept this.

Sherry Ehrin: 14:25

Sure, I was going to ask you what gives you the strength to keep pushing through, but it sounds like it's just that's innate in both of you.

Jodi Chestnut: 14:34

Yes, and I'm sure the love, the bond you share, the family. I know that you both have been super involved with your son and his activities. How did you navigate this as a mom trying to be strong Because I'm sure you had to be strong for your son? This couldn't have been easy for him either, and he's in that transitional age as well.

Megan Grau: 14:53

Yeah, he was 19, just freshman year in college and a lot of this stuff, since he was in baseball and in college and away. He wasn't here for it. So we would just give him telephone updates. Once in a while he was able to come home. So he lived a bit through everything we were telling him, which we were very open with him and honest. And we had a conversation with him like how much do you want to know or do you want us to just hold back a bit? And he said nope, I want to know everything. So whenever we'd get information or whatever was going on, we would just call him. The day that we found out that he was given that six months to a year to live, we couldn't bear to tell him that over the phone. So we did drive to school and surprised him Not a good surprise, but we surprised him. And in that time we were just waiting for him to finish practice, which we knew his practice schedule and he wasn't coming home. He wasn't coming home, he wasn't coming home. It was probably almost two hours after practice that he finally came home and when we found him he was after practice. He was. He had a job to cut other people's fields, you know baseball fields and whatnot. So that's what he decided to do.

Megan Grau: 16:03

So then, during that two hour time in the car was a very, very, very stressful but loving time that Mike and I had together in a very confined space. We couldn't leave. It was pouring down rain outside, the whole thing, and we really talked about every single aspect of it and what we wanted out of the rest of our lives, what we wanted to happen if per se, he were to pass away all of the things that you want to say to somebody during that time. But some people just don't, we did that. Just too hard to say Mm-hmm, did that, yeah. And then we told him and that was obviously hard, but he went to school for four years at Youngstown and played baseball and excelled in his scholastics as well. It was quite amazing to see him flourish and it was such a heavy load off our shoulders and it was such a distraction for us. Mike went to almost every single game. We went to some away games, sometimes we do, to treatments or how he was feeling and whatnot, and surgeries, certainly a bright spot through.

Megan Grau: 17:10

He was such a bright spot through it all and I even remember his freshman year. That was 2020. We were at a playoff game at Wright State and we didn't make it into the second round of playoffs. So you know, everyone was upset but we just couldn't help but think, God, that's probably the last time he's going to have his dad here to watch him and it was gut-wrenching. And the coaches, let us come on the field and hug him and you know, really be in the moment, and it was a really special moment. But fast forward. My husband was able to watch all four years of him play for Youngstown State and then he ended up getting picked up by Pitt Baseball because he had a fifth year of eligibility. So he played in our hometown and he played for the ACC for his fifth year for his master's certificate. So not only did he not miss a year, he got it all. He got it all. Yeah, it's amazing, it really is amazing.

Megan Grau: 18:05

So what we were talking about a little bit before is what did I do to be strong? I knew after a certain time, after my mother passed, I was kind of going down a path that wasn't the best. It was a very upsetting time and then one day I just stopped and I sat and I thought about what am I going to do for my son? I know what I can do for my husband, but what do I need to do for my son so he can still be a kid and be a college kid and have this great experience?

Megan Grau: 18:34

So I ended up going alcohol free immediately for 14 months straight and I went into this workout program which was super helpful as well in my garage but you know, I just did at home workouts and my body be banging my gosh. I looked good. I just want to be the best version of myself and really give Turner the time and space and the knowledge of knowing that his mother is going to be okay. Yeah, if it's all said and done, if this just doesn't work out for mike, then I wanted him to be confident in me and him not to try to take on that role of protector and all that.

Sherry Ehrin: 19:16

I wanted him to still be a kid and be in college and you're giving him that sense of security, some sense of security, some sense of security, some sense of stability.

Megan Grau: 19:24

Mm-hmm, and he wrote me a Mother's Day card shortly thereafter and said I knew you were strong, mom, but I never knew you were this strong. You're doing an amazing job. Yeah, I saved that card.

Jodi Chestnut: 19:35

That's so important Aw.

Sherry Ehrin: 19:39

Yeah, that's not the typical default when people are going through hard things. Yeah, that's not the typical default when people are going through hard things, we go to our vices that are the least helpful in the long run. So you had to find another way, another outlet, which for you became the working out, the physical activity.

Megan Grau: 19:58

I read books. I read inspirational books and manifesting. I read this amazing manifesting book, which I read multiple times now. What is the book.

Sherry Ehrin: 20:08

I will link it in the show notes and put it in the TY toolkit on our website. It's called manifesting. I think you said that one is manifest the seven steps to living your best life and that one's by Roxy Nafusi and it's just stepping into meditation and the meditation practices of manifesting your life Like positive energy in and not focusing on all the negativity because it's really really easy to to get in a downward spiral and stay stuck there and be stressed and anxiety-ridden which, yeah, sure, it was a stressful and anxiety-ridden time and it still is but you can't just keep doing that, you can't be in that space all the time.

Megan Grau: 20:58

Yeah, that's the frequency you're giving out is what you're going to receive. So and I learned that, and so I you know I had some good friends talk to me about certain things on how to do that, and you know I still practice it. Yeah, just daily, more of a purposeful, mindful way of going about being positive. I mean, yes, I'm a positive person in general, but it is a very focused mindfulness and positivity every day, sure it is helpful.

Jodi Chestnut: 21:30

Yeah, even the most positive of us. You still have to practice, you still have to work it just like any other muscle, right?

Megan Grau: 21:37

It's uncomfortable. Sometimes you actually feel like you're ridiculous, saying these things to your head, you know, but your subconscious brain doesn't have, doesn't know jokes, it doesn't know sarcasm, it doesn't know anything else other than what you're telling it. And if you're telling it all the time you're stressed, you're angry, you're bitter, you're scared, then that's all you're going to put out. Yes, that's the shift.

Jodi Chestnut: 21:57

We talk about that a lot, about the compounding you can compound and good compound. The bad compounding you can compound in good or you can compound the bad Compound bad.

Sherry Ehrin: 22:05

yeah, but also in that I'm sure have been the moments, the days where you are on pause or you can't get moving yet you have those days, you have those times.

Megan Grau: 22:22

And we've learned that it's okay to be that way, giving yourself grace. I mean, we just went through it last week. So when we get bad news or we get news that we're blindsided by, we're deer in headlights, we're feeling all the feels, we're feeling anxiety-ridden, sad, mad, stressed, all of it, and just stunted emotionally to the point where you don't want to see people. You don't want to, you just want to sleep, if you could sleep. But I think we've. We've learned that that's okay. You know, we've given ourselves some time to grieve this process and and typically it takes the next day we rebound. So we forced ourselves to rebound better than anyone.

Jodi Chestnut: 23:03

You're allowing yourself to feel and process, which is probably a harder part for you too, because you are go-getters, you are, you know, you're vibrant and you're fighters and I'm sure that getting to that space, learning to get into that space where you can accept that sometimes you're going to feel like shit and you're just not going to want to be that person, I think allowing that was probably not easy.

Megan Grau: 23:28

Yeah, at first we just wanted to try to gloss over everything. In fact it was a while that we really didn't tell a lot of people. At first we told the core family and the core people, but we really didn't want it out there and all the world to know at first. But then we said, why not? You know, people are going to pray for us and we have people that are praying for us all over the entire country and other countries. So at that point, that's when I started becoming a little bit more vocal about it and posting updates on social media, because we have so many people that are worried about him and praying for him and want to know what's going on, who love and care for you. Right, our community.

Megan Grau: 24:08

We both grew up together in the Avonworth community. Like I said, he was both my brother's best friends. Our roots run really deep in our community and you know people love us. They love both of our families. So, yeah, I felt really compelled and it actually made me feel stronger. My husband I'm his PR person. He calls me because he does a lot of social media, so he typically knows when I post something, because people start reaching out to him or they see him somewhere and they'll, you know, mention it or whatever is occurring at that time. And he said oh, my wife must have posted something. Yeah, I said, yeah, we were so appreciative that she does that and I've even given tips and helpful hints about things that helped Mike through radiation and chemo and immunotherapy and just some different practices that really helped him. That I felt, well, I'm going to put it out there because somebody else might be dealing with this, so you're still giving back that I felt, well, I'm going to put it out there because somebody else might be dealing with this.

Megan Grau: 25:05

So you're still giving back, I guess. So yeah you're right.

Sherry Ehrin: 25:07

It's also another way to support Mike, so that he doesn't have to bear that Right and people are able to show up in love and support. Yeah.

Megan Grau: 25:18

And boy they did. Our community and our family and our dear, dear friends came in tenfold when this all came about. We had friends that they wanted to do a fundraiser for us and they called it the Grau Strong Bash that's our last name, graus and they came to us and asked if we'd be okay with it. And we said sure, okay, because we knew we were going to be up against some heavy, heavy financial burdens. Yes, and Mike was no longer able to work. So we agreed. But we thought literally maybe there'd be maybe 100 people max at this fundraiser and when we showed up I think there was 500 people there and baskets upon baskets. We were so overwhelmed. It was such an amazing day and night that we were actually really shocked. I mean, I knew we were loved, but I didn't know we were loved this much and I could never repay all the people that participated. And we had other you know fundraisers GoFundMe pages from Turner's travel baseball team put it out there and everyone in the community. Just, it was shocking.

Sherry Ehrin: 26:24

Yeah, I've experienced that for my dad as well, and it's it's something that changes you for forever forever and it's.

Jodi Chestnut: 26:40

but you are, Sherry you're doing it by what we're doing right here, and Meg's giving back by what she's doing, sharing her story, sharing her resources, being open to talk about the things that you've gone through. All of those things are giving back in the absolute best way.

Megan Grau: 26:58

When you have people in your lives like that, you're not just fighting for yourself, you're fighting for everybody. You know you're fighting for your life, but you're also fighting for the life that.

Sherry Ehrin: 27:06

It's like being on a team and you have all these people on your team.

Megan Grau: 27:10

Yeah, yep, I mean, people came and cleaned our house. Good friends own a cleaning company. They cleaned our house once a month for two years. We had food donations for probably two years through the really, really hard, hard times where it was extremely difficult. You know, in the interim of all that we did, we lost a dear friend three days after my mother passed away. I lost a dear friend three days after my mother passed away. We lost my mother-in-law Mike's mom nine months later and Turner lost one of his dearest friends two years ago. Knowing that we had this strength behind us, not even just ourselves, but in our community and the people that we've lived with and lived around and even complete strangers and lived around and even complete strangers I can't tell you how many complete strangers would mail us something, or even a card, or show up at the door and just donate something a dish or you know things like that Very humbling, yes, in a good way. Right, you know Right.

Sherry Ehrin: 28:09

In a very good way, and it's things like that to remember. When everything seems so crazy in the world right now, you got to remember that people are good.

Megan Grau: 28:21

There are so many good people out there. Yep, everyone focuses on all the bad stuff, and I get it, but part of my journey as well that I no longer really do that. Yeah, I don't focus that much on the bad stuff. I really just purposefully try to stay on the positive side of things. My mother taught us that she did it through many, many, many trials and tribulations and health issues in her life. Her mantra was always treat people the way you want to be treated, and that's what I have taught our son since day one, mm-hmm, so he knows that. But it's that rise up feeling in you that when something is happening, you have two choices you can either lay down or you get up. You rise up and you do better, you be better Right, give yourself some space, give yourself your moments where you're down, and that's completely fine. But you can't stay in that space very long.

Sherry Ehrin: 29:15

Yeah, that's right. And speaking of that, while all this was going on, and with the support of friends and family, you took on something completely new, completely out of your element, and made the bold shift in your career. So tell us about that. And how does that even come to be with all that you had on your plate at that time?

Megan Grau: 29:41

I still don't actually know exactly. I just I know this. It was New Year's Eve, 2020. So, heading into 2021. And at that point, my life that I knew so much was gone. It was unrecognizable. Honestly, the only thing that was remaining the same was my job, and I was unhappy in my job for many years. And I just again I rose up and I said I'm not entering into 2021 in this job. In this job, and for years, my cousin, who is now my business partner, robin Jones, she had been asking me to come along in her real estate team for Piat Sotheby's International Realty and I never did it.

Megan Grau: 30:23

I was a creature of habit, and that's another thing that has seriously changed in my life. I am not a creature of habit anymore. Yes, I like certain things, but More adventurous habit anymore. Yes, I like certain things, but More adventurous, yes, way more adventurous. We take flights. Now we go places on vacation where my husband and I did not fly anywhere for probably 20 years because we were petrified of flying. Actually, we had a phobia, wow. So now, ever since that, we say screw it, we're going what?

Sherry Ehrin: 30:50

was the first flight.

Megan Grau: 30:52

First flight we took was to the Grand Canyon. We went to the Grand Canyon with some really really fantastic friends of ours two other couples and we saw the Grand Canyon and we watched the sunset over the Canyon. It was an amazing, amazing trip. And Mike was really sick at the time and I can't believe he was even able to manage it really sick at the time and I can't believe he was even able to manage it, but he did and we have such great memories and photos and laughter and tears, all the, all the things. And that's the first place we went.

Megan Grau: 31:24

So, yeah, I just decided that night I'm done and I left my job. I walked away from my job of 15 years at a law firm and I immediately started studying for my real estate exams. So it took me six weeks and, ladies, I'm 48 years old or whatever, I'm 52 in June. So I had to study. I'm studying in the hospital, I'm studying while my husband's having surgeries in the waiting room. I studied for six weeks, solid. Then I went and took my exams and I passed them immediately, both of them, and I went to work with my cousin on the Robin Jones team in real estate and it is the best decision I've ever made in my entire life with my job. Amazing, it's wonderful. I'm so happy.

Jodi Chestnut: 32:08

I love helping people and probably a lot less stressful than your previous job.

Megan Grau: 32:13

Yeah, a lot less stressful. I'm very flexible in my days, which I really needed, a job that I could be home with my husband and my son and to be present and not be sitting behind a desk for eight, nine hours and sitting in traffic and all that jazz. And I get to spend a lot of days with my cousin. She's like a sister to me Incredible transformation cousin. She's like a sister to me. Incredible transformation. Yeah, everyone thought I was insane. I get it. They looked at me like I was absolutely lost.

Sherry Ehrin: 32:39

You're like totally taking a leap without you know. No, no stability, because at that point in time Mike was no longer able to work.

Megan Grau: 32:48

Yeah, and, like I said, the first couple of years getting in real estate is difficult, you know, but I had a great mentor and my cousin and she's highly successful. I still learn every day, but it is by far the best decision. I have a career now. I didn't have really a career back then and I don't necessarily know if I'd have been able to make that jump if my life hadn't been in such disarray.

Sherry Ehrin: 33:10

You know, back then I might've just wanted to stay comfortable and secure and or hemmed and hawed around it and studied a little bit here or stick your toe in, but you, just you dove straight in girl.

Megan Grau: 33:22

I dove straight in the next day. I was like New Year's day, here we go, here we go.

Sherry Ehrin: 33:27

Okay, and so that's been now four years.

Megan Grau: 33:30

It'll be four years in March. Wow, yeah, and my husband says it. It's actually kind of a true testament. He said it to me probably about a year ago. He said you know, Bub, that's what we call each other Bub. And he said, Bub, even though this was the most heart-wrenching and worst times of our lives in the past five years, I've seen you so happy. He's like I've seen a transformation in you that you haven't had and it's because you did something for yourself and changed your career path into something that you're good at and that you love. So I think that's a really true testament of how, if you can say, I'm really happy during all this time, I think that was a pretty true testament of it was the right choice for me and my family, I mean.

Jodi Chestnut: 34:17

they say we grow in uncomfortable places, right, so you're? A great example of that.

Megan Grau: 34:23

I am. I was not a person of change. I didn't love change a lot. You know, even if I got a new laptop now, it doesn't even matter, I just roll with it, yeah.

Sherry Ehrin: 34:34

Ultimate pivots. That's what happens when you got out of your comfort zone. You were thrown way out of it. That's probably it. You were thrown so far out of it that it almost felt that was the norm is to go do something else out of your comfort zone.

Megan Grau: 34:46

Right, that's what I said. I said why not I

Sherry Ehrin: 34:58

Well, it worked out. It worked out. Yeah, it did. I'm super happy. And speaking of happy, there's your mom, the 3 heart. Tell us about that. She left her special symbol that she always said that when you talk about her.

Megan Grau: 35:13

Yeah, I have it tattooed on my arm as well, after she passed. So, growing up, my brothers and I were always in sports and whatnot, and sometimes she would just yell I love you from across the field or something you know if we're walking onto the bus or whatever and she started just to say three, which means I love you, and she would hold three fingers up all the time and she would scream out all the time three, three, which means I love you, and she would hold three fingers up all the time and she would scream out all the time three, three, three.

Megan Grau: 35:38

We have it cemented in our family home in the steps. We have it cemented in my front porch now and with our son's handprint next to it when he was little. So it's been like a mantra for us growing up and then it's just transferred over to our children. So her grandchildren and you know she was constantly saying three, and any card that you got she would have a heart and she would have a three in it or it would be in parentheses three. That was her thing and that became our thing.

Sherry Ehrin: 36:08

Sure, and that's part of what's carried you through. It's a big part of what's carried you through.

Megan Grau: 36:14

Yeah, yeah, her love was. It was something else, that's for sure. She loved fiercely. You know if she loved you, you knew it. I learned that from her. So when she passed, I got a three. I actually didn't put that number three because people were asking me why did she used to write it out? No, she never wrote it out. But my husband, during his diagnosis, my niece got a tattoo of a heart with a 22, like incorporated. I immediately, at 48 years old, got my first tattoo with 22 on it for him. So I thought, well, if I have a three on my body, people are going to think what is going on with her. So I chose to write it out on my arm. But my nieces, hunter, hayden and Harris, they all got tattoos with my mother's handwriting that had three with the heart or all our love three. So there's four of us with that tattooed on our bodies.

Sherry Ehrin: 37:03

So far legacy for Turner and your loved ones and the listeners what feels most important to say out loud. I feel like you've already said so much.

Megan Grau: 37:20

I said a lot of it, probably, and my mantra, you know, is treat people the way you want to be treated and understand that everybody's going through some things in their lives, every single one of us. And you might listen to our story right now and think, oh my gosh, but there are other people out there that have it worse. Their loved ones are lost, they're gone. So I try really hard to be mindful of all of that. Now, if I'm even in a public place and just try to be mindful about your surroundings and who you're dealing with, and they might be grumpy, but they might be dealing with a lot of stuff too. They might be happy and they might be dealing with a lot of stuff too.

Megan Grau: 37:57

Yeah, because you're sure that's me Right, you don't know what someone is carrying, but I also I surround myself with the people I know that want the best for myself and my son and my husband and our family. I don't stress any more about people that are just negative in general. They like to complain, they like to just oh, my car broke down, you know, whatever. I distance myself from that. I don't have a lot of patience for that, and not that I do or say anything. I just remove myself from the situation and live my life and not worry about it anymore.

Sherry Ehrin: 38:32

Yeah, I recently started practicing. I can't remember where I heard the idea, but I was like, oh, I'll try that you get one complaint a day and if you just think about it and allow yourself, that's my allowance one complaint a day I feel like I'm a positive person. I feel like I'm catching myself still wanting to complain about something that's totally irrelevant, like really meaningless.

Megan Grau: 38:55

Right, no, I just think, um, you know hard things. Yeah, I just think, be the best person you can be. You know, when none of us are perfect, everyone struggles. It's just how you rise up. You know also, you're stronger than you think. Wherever you are, you're stronger than you think we all are, we all are, and I was definitely taught that that is for sure.

Sherry Ehrin: 39:18

That is for sure. And yes, we all are stronger than you think. Thank you for spending this time with us. The world may feel heavy right now and we're all carrying that weight together. But while the bigger picture unfolds, people are still facing deeply personal challenges, and that's why today's conversation matters. Megan's willingness to speak openly about her pain, her journey and the realities she lives with is a gift. She reminds us to treat each other better by giving more grace. We just don't know what someone is facing day after day. And by sharing her story, she is helping others who are in tough places to see that you're not better by giving more grace. We just don't know what someone is facing day after day. And by sharing her story, she is helping others who are in tough places to see that you're not alone and you are stronger than you think. And sometimes speaking our pain out loud is not just brave. It can be a powerful part of healing. Megan, thank you for coming on and sharing your truth with us, and Mike, we are in all of your strength and determination. Keep going, keep growing, Grau strong.

Sherry Ehrin: 40:20

This podcast is for informational and entertainment purposes only. Nothing shared on this podcast should be considered professional advice. The views expressed by the host and guests are their own and do not necessarily reflect those of any organizations or affiliations. If you or someone you know is in crisis, please reach out to a trusted professional or crisis hotline in your area. Help is available 24-7. Thank you 7 crisis intervention and stabilization services to all Allegheny County residents. You can reach them by calling 1-888-796-8226. If you are struggling with mental health, addiction, grief or any other serious personal challenges, we encourage you to seek support from a qualified professional.