July 18, 2023 • 28 mins
Tonight's episode is about John McAleavey. His story aof struggle, strength, and resilence. Through his journey in life he has been able to move forward and become an inspiration to many. It is my honor to ibtroduce John McAleavey. Welcome
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Episode Transcript
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Speaker 1 (00:00):
Block host Radio.
Speaker 2 (00:04):
Hi everyone, and welcome back to Insight into Healing. My
name is Alexa Servo Didiona. I'm your host. Thank you
so much for tuning in each week and sending in
your questions to Insight into Healing at gmail dot com. Well,
tonight's episode is so powerful. Tonight I have John McLevy.
(00:24):
His story is a story of struggle, strength and resilience.
Through his journey in life, he has been able to
move forward and become an inspiration to many. It is
my honor to introduce John mcilvy. Thank you so much
for joining us this evening and so happy to have
you here on Insight into Healing.
Speaker 1 (00:44):
It is my pleasure, Alexa, I thank you for the
opportunity to speak with you and your audience.
Speaker 2 (00:50):
Absolutely no. One of my past guests, Eric Aaron Alter,
who has been on the show numerous times and the
Alexa Show, connected us and he explained to us your
story and everything of you moving forward, and I just
said I have to have you on the show. So
if you could get still in my listeners, where is she?
Where did your story begin?
Speaker 1 (01:10):
Well? Eric and I grew up on the mean streets
and short hills, New Jersey, and we both went to
Melbourne High School. Eric was a couple of years behind me.
I burned in nineteen hundred and eighty six. From there,
I went to Providence College in Rhode Island and was
(01:32):
kind of trying to figure out what I wanted to
do with my life. And once I got into school,
I had a friend that was doing an internship at
a local television station. She was working in the sports department,
and I was always a sports guy. Eric will tell
you I played a number of sports in high school,
and if I wasn't on the field or the court,
I was watching them. And I thought, Hey, if I
(01:54):
could find a job where I could get paid to
watch sports, because I knew I wasn't going to be
playing for professionally, then I said, that sounds like it's
for me. So I interned at a local ABCTV affiliate
in Rhode Island for three years and got tremendous experience.
So when I graduated, I was ready built to work
(02:16):
at a TV station, and so I got a job
right out of school at a place called Sports News Network.
It was down in Arlington, Virginia, and I worked four
o'clock in the afternoon to three o'clock in the morning
when all the games were over, and then I had
an hour drive home. So those nights were harry, to
say the least. And so I had really gotten bitten
by the bug. And the company was great. Unfortunately, we
(02:38):
went bankrupt in about nine months, and so I was
back out looking for a job. And at the time,
this is the early nineties, the gold standard was ESPN,
and I really wanted to work at ESPN. And I
went to a job fair in San Diego in June
of ninety two and there were six hundred people that
were there and they interviewed two people and I was
(02:58):
lucky enough to get one of the interviews. I thought
I did really well. And again that was June of
nineteen ninety two. August rolls around, and unfortunately, on August nineteen,
I had gone to bed that night and I woke
up in the middle of the night and I wasn't
feeling well and I thought, you know, I was living
(03:18):
in the basement at the time, back in my home.
I thought, you know, I had probably better go upstairs
and get my parents to maybe take me to the
hospital because I just don't feel good. And Alexa. From there,
I can remember walking towards the stairs and feeling like
I was going to faint, and then that's all I remember.
I don't remember walking up my basement steps, and I
(03:38):
don't remember falling down, but I fell down the complete
flight of steps, and I wake up at the bottom
and I am completely paralyzed from head to toe. And
at that point I could hear my father coming down
the stairs, and I really didn't have any you know, breaths.
I didn't really have much ung vital lung capacity because
(04:00):
my injury was so high on my spinal cord that
all I could do was whisper to him, you know,
don't touch me. Don't touch me, because oftentimes if you
try to move people you can you can make something worse.
And so that was pretty much the beginning of my
new life. I was twenty four years old and the
Milbourne First Date Squad brought me up to Overlook Hospital
and there my journey as a newly spinal cord injured
(04:24):
individual began.
Speaker 2 (04:26):
Wow, you have really a conscious a lot, and you've
been able to use this which is so empowering, which
is so amazing. Why I've also wanted to have you
on the show because so many times, these horrific events
happen and it's hard to try to understand why or
explain why. But I think the importance of that journey
(04:46):
for you, of resilience and how you've kept moving forward.
What was that like for you? What did you use
to help you kind of keep moving forward and find
that hope?
Speaker 1 (04:57):
Yeah, well, I'll tell you early on that hope was
hard to find, you know. I mean here, I was
just just the night before my accident. I was down
at the running through through town, running around the track
at Melbourne High School, four or five miles and then
all of a sudden, you know, and then a span
of about twelve hours, I can't wiggle my toes and
I can't, I can't do anything like that, and so
(05:20):
it takes a while. I must say, it was not
something that I was right ready to take this on
because you know, these injuries, they affect you so much physically.
Like I mentioned to you, I couldn't wiggle my toes,
I could, I could hardly breathe. And you know, final
cord injuries, anything below the level of your injury, the
(05:42):
muscles are going to be affected. And you know, two
of the bigger muscles in our body that people don't
like to talk about are you're bow and bladder and
so you lose all you know, all of that, so
you can't have trouble with that, and you have you
know whether it's somebody's gonna walk or whether they're gonna
be able to himself, and so all of that takes
(06:02):
its toll on you physically, but these injuries really affect
you almost more so mentally because you're trying to think,
you know, how am I going to be able to
do all these things again? And you have to Number one,
have a strong family, which I had in spades. My
family is amazing. My father was the quarterback and he
made sure that anybody that came into my room had
(06:24):
a smile on their face and a positive attitude. And
he was my rock and my hero. Unfortunately we lost
him in twenty fifteen, but he was the man. And
my sister Susan, who to this day is my biggest cheerleader,
who doesn't let me have a bad day and is
constantly pushing me, telling me you can do it, you
can do it, even at times when I don't think
(06:45):
I can. And my mom, you know, your mom is
always with you, and she has bent over backwards in
more ways than one to help me out through the years.
So you need a strong family behind you and great friends.
There were oftentimes when I was at Kessler, I did
my rehabilitation at Kessler Institute for Rehabilities. Hope.
Speaker 2 (07:13):
See it's still there. I think we lost you there
for a second. Yes, So you know, I think it's
really important as we hear John speaking the importance of
that struggle. And sometimes when those times, if I've spoken
so many times on the show, when it seems times
can be so dark, when it's so hard to lift
(07:35):
your head up sometimes, or when you don't see that
light at the end of the tunnel, that it's okay
to start visualizing that there can be that hope and
that light. And John, welcome back. And it's been so
amazing to be able to hear your story but also
to really hear your strength. And I think so many
(07:57):
times we don't really realize right away what our journey
is going to be moving forward, but it's finding that
hope and rebuilding that hope. And maybe we don't know
what it looks like in this new chapter, but being
able to find it it does.
Speaker 1 (08:13):
Yeah, you have to because you know, Alexa. I mean,
the way I look at it is, we all have
one bite at the apple. You know, we're all here
for however many years we're going to be here for.
And I had some friends at Kessler that chose to
go down the rabbit hole and are just bitter and
can't accept it and can't move on, and they just
(08:36):
stay in their room. They didn't go to therapy, and
they really just weren't getting with the program, if you
know what I mean. And so I just am somebody
that I like to wake up on the sunny side
of the street all the time, against all odds, because
I know that when my feet hit the floor in
the morning, my day is just beginning. And it's hard.
I mean, I can't tell you. I tell you know
(08:59):
my friends sometimes you wouldn't believe just you know what,
what I'm dealing with here and with with people like
me or are dealing with. And so I just decide
that I'm not going to go down that route, and
I'm gonna put on a happy face and I'm gonna
I'm gonna make the most of what I have. And
that is what I've been trying to do with with
(09:22):
the peer mentorship that I do. I'm the peer Peer
Counseling coordinator at Kessler these days, and it's my job
to go into rooms where people have just had life
altering accidents or falls or you know, we have injuries
of all types, whether it's car accidents or gunshots or
falls and that type of thing, and they're there probably
(09:46):
within the first you know, two or three weeks of
this happening to them, and they're there to rehab, but
they're also there to have their minds rehabbed. And that's
sort of where I come in, and I go into
the room and I explain that we we offer something
where we can maybe find someone who has a similar
injury to the one that they have sustained, but that
has been living in the community with it for a
(10:08):
number of years and has kind of figured out, you know,
what life is all about again, sort of one way
to skin a cat that was more than one way
to skin a cat. That was something that my occupational
therapist told me all these moons ago. And we offer
that because we tell them it's one thing to be
able to talk to your doctor or your therapist, even
your family members able bodied people, but you know, they
(10:31):
might have compassion and they love you, but they don't
necessarily know what you're going through, whereas I could bring
somebody in who has a similar injury that knows exactly
what they're going through and what the future for them
might look like, and that it can be a fulfilling
life and it's something that they can do with.
Speaker 2 (10:50):
The game changer of what you're talking about is being
able to reach them where they are mentally and where
they are emotionally, because yes, of course the physical part
is a huge chapter of it, but I think it's
also the mental and the emotional and being able to
reach that person to start building their spirits or start
to bring some of those spirits and that hope out
(11:11):
and being having someone to speak to them who's gone
through that. So your role is really that game changing
moment because we hear so many times in people's stories,
whatever they have had to go through, there usually are
those one or two people that they have met that
have spoken to them in one of their darkest days,
in their darkest moments that they remember has given them
(11:33):
that wow, even though they might not want to hear it,
they were able to get that glimpse of hope and saying, Wow,
I have someone here that's on my team.
Speaker 1 (11:42):
Yes, And I have to tell you. One thing that's
been really cathartic for me is as I mentioned earlier on,
I was a big sports guy growing up. I had
a friend that asked me to help him out. He
was starting to coach youth basketball in Milburn, and he
asked me to come and, you know, help him out.
And I thought, she's I can't hold a basketball anymore,
(12:05):
let alone dribble one. And I really have a hard
time walking. I mean, I thought, what help could I be?
And I went that first day, and you know, I
really didn't do very much. And you know, the next
day I went back, and you know, as the weeks
went by, I would interject things here and there because
I knew the game and I loved the game. And
then by the end of the season, I was, you know,
(12:26):
really a big part of the whole thing. And then
the next year he told me he got really busy
at work and he had to go. So it's like,
all right, now you're the man, and so I was
the I became the head coach and I did that
for twenty years, and it was a labor of love
and I telled the boys, I said, any joy that
you guys got out of the season, I got tenfold
from from you know, having that athletic background and that
(12:50):
competition that I lacked when I didn't, you know, when
I didn't have my legs and my arms to really
take part in stuff like that anymore. And so I've
gotten h I've got numerous emails and cards over the
years from from parents telling me that, you know, their
son learned a lot about basketball, but they also learned
(13:11):
a lot more about what life is like with having
someone like me coaching them and being around them and
you know, not you know, giving into what the situation was,
but to just live live the life that I had
and without having any drawbacks. And so that was always
something that has stood out to me and.
Speaker 2 (13:33):
Absolutely and those children on that basketball team really learned
what life is really about. I mean, it really puts
things in perspective. And those are one of those, you know,
as they say, priceless moments that money can't buy. That's
something that you know, that's something that they have learned,
that that gift no one else could ever give them.
And I think it's so important that they'll be able
(13:55):
to use that to pay it forward, but that you
were able to use your experience and pay it forward,
and you also have a podcast that is just amazing
and really helping so many people tell us about that.
Speaker 1 (14:09):
Yes I do, and I thank you for asking. I have.
As I said in the beginning, I'm sort of a
frustrated sports guy and a communicator, and so back when
COVID hit and everybody was stuck in their house, it
was kind of like, Okay, what am I going to
do with my time? And for years and years and years,
(14:30):
I used to tell all my friends at Kessler when
I would go back for outpatient therapy, I said, you know,
I'm going to start a podcast and I'm going to
call it the Quadcast. And everybody got a kick out
of that, because technically the level of my injury, I'm
considered a QUAD. So then I we'd go back and
I would see them six months later and they'd say, hey,
how's that thing going, And I said, well, I don't
(14:52):
have the equipment, or I don't have this, or I
don't have that. Well, finally, when COVID rolled around, I said,
you know what, I'm just going to buy a laptop.
I got a good laptop and and I was able
to download some software. I bought a good microphone and
I just said, I'm going to go for it, and
I had no idea really what I was doing. I
put together a phrase that I said that this podcast
is mainly for and about folks like me who have
(15:15):
had their lives affected by a spinal cord injury, but
is really for anyone who just wants to be inspired.
And I call it a thirty to forty five minute
session of OT and PT for the soul. And what
I do Alexa is I look for folks who have
had themselves spinal cord injuries and have gone on to
do amazing things in spite of them from wheelchairs, some
(15:37):
of them most of them from wheelchairs, a lot of
them very high quads who have really no control over
their legs or their arms. But folks who have gone
on Shark Tank and actually gotten money from the sharks
and have started two and three different businesses. Is a multimillionaire.
I've also had an NFL football player join me. Utley
(16:00):
was injured back in the late nineteen eighties on the
football field that had my friend Eric Legrand, who folks
in New Jersey might recognize that name. He was injured
playing football for Rutgers University a number of years ago
and has gone on to do some amazing things, and
then you know, just some other people. I use the
(16:21):
term necessity is the mother of all invention. People who
for one reason or another aren't able to do anything
any longer, and so they invent something that will help
them to accomplish a task and have started businesses that way.
Speaker 2 (16:35):
And I think that's so incredible because you know, sometimes
when you don't know what else could there be that
intuition at being able to be creative and doing something.
And I find that, especially with podcasts and shows, the
audience really draws to that. They want to know the truth.
They want to also hear someone who is vulnerable but
(16:55):
also is passionate and is inspiring and can share that
stories so people can relate to it in their own
struggle in their own life to be able to be
inspired to know what I remember that moment when I
really feel like I couldn't move or feel like I
couldn't emotionally do anything, and being able to use these
moments in these different shows and episodes to help them
(17:17):
get through those tough times, and then especially during COVID,
was an incredible time for these shows and podcasts to
be out because so many people found them. They almost
had to have the time. They had too much time,
and they had to start researching ways of being inventive
or also being able to pass time, but to find
what was going on with them. If they couldn't go
(17:38):
see friends, or if they couldn't go into therapy, or
they didn't have their job or something to distract them,
they needed that moment to themselves for a while to
be able to say, Okay, what's inside of me? What
comes for me? And sometimes those are the most beautiful
gifts and stories and inventions that are out there.
Speaker 1 (17:56):
Absolutely, and the idea was to record these for newly
injured folks so that they could see that, yeah, my
lot in life right now is not what I thought
it would be, well not what I wanted it to be,
and you know, for all intents and purposes, it's going
to be a tough life. But again, it's not the
end of the world, and it beats the alternative. And
(18:16):
then I started thinking it could also be for folks
like me. This August nineteen will be thirty one years
since I had my accident, and it could be for
people who have been injured for a number of years
that they could see that hey, listen, I could still
do something with what I have here if I put
my mind to it again. Any sort of inspirational stories.
(18:37):
As I said, it's mainly for folks who've had spinal
cord injuries, but for anybody that just wants to be inspired.
And you know who can't be inspired hearing a story
about somebody who who is completely paralyzed from head to
toe but sits in board meetings and is the head
of a company. And I have a friend who started
a shoe company because he couldn't get shoes on. Now
(19:00):
he's got a huge shoe company and he's affecting not
only his world but everybody else's. And so it's, you know,
picking up the pieces and moving along with what you
still have.
Speaker 2 (19:12):
Yes, yes, and yes it's a hard journey once we
have to pick up the pieces and move forward. But
I think the most important piece while going through it
is knowing that it can be done. Yes, it's not
it might not be easy. Yes, it's not going to
happen overnight, but that's okay. Some of those are the
best things that come out of it that take that
(19:33):
time that you're able to cultivate and really bring your
heart and soul into it so others can hear it
and feel that and be able to have it ring
true for them. How can we find your show? Where
is it airing? How can people follow you?
Speaker 1 (19:49):
People can find my show. They can find all of
my episodes on my websites, which is www dot quadcast.
That's QUA D B A s T dot org, quadcast
dot org. And then you can also find me on Facebook.
(20:09):
The name is John McLevy. I'll spell that it's mc
capital A L E A V as in Victor E y.
And then I'm also on Instagram. I have a couple
of accounts on Instagram. One is T D Johnny fourteen.
That's T D J O h n n Y fourteen,
(20:35):
and then the other one is t quadcast and that's
q U A D D A S T. I'm also
on Twitter and it's John J. Mclev uh and I
also have an account for my quadcast on Twitter as well.
I'm pretty new to all of this social media stuff.
(20:56):
I know, Alexa, we didn't have any of this stuff
when I was a kid. Up in the dark ages
in the eighties, and so I have my niece and
nephew helped me out with all of that. But confusing, right,
I don't even know what I'm saying all these different things.
Speaker 2 (21:13):
They didn't have it when I was growing up. Beat
it like I had to learn all of this and say, okay,
let's see what happens, especially during shows. As they say, Also,
I'm also an actress and sometimes the show must go on.
We don't ever know what's going to happen.
Speaker 1 (21:26):
Yeah, we don't right when we were kids. Oh yeah,
electricity was just coming around. Oh that's so funny.
Speaker 2 (21:33):
You know one other things, So go ahead, go ahead.
Speaker 1 (21:36):
Also, yeah, what's next for me? You know what I'm
trying to do is I am actually trying to get
into recording voiceovers. I'm trying to get into the voiceover
world because back in the day, my occupational therapists told me, John,
you can't dwell on what does not work for you anymore.
(21:57):
And for me, my injuries an interesting one. It's very
high on my spinal cord, but my upper body is
oftentimes has been more affected than my lower body. It's
called central cord syndrome and They told me to think
of myself as an upside down para. Now, you know,
with paraplegics, their legs don't work, so they're in wheelchairs.
(22:19):
In my case, they said, John, you'll probably walk, but
you'll have little to no use of your upper body.
And they were really true with that. I really have
little to know use of fine motor skills, like I
can't do buttons and zippers and shirts. I can't lift
my arms up over my head. I really can't do
much with that. So one thing that still works for
(22:39):
me is that I can accentuate and I joke around
with people. Is my big mouth. So I started doing
the podcast one and I'm also looking to do some
recording of voiceovers if I can. So, if there's anybody
else my mind, you.
Speaker 2 (22:56):
Must have read my mind, because I was going to literally, honestly,
I was going to tell you you have the perfect
voice for podcast, and I was going to say, you're
really look into doing some more, you look into voice
over other type of work, because you have that voice.
It's very polished, it's very clear. I support you totally, said,
anyone who's listening, you're ready, Yeah.
Speaker 1 (23:18):
Please, if you, if you if there's anyone out there
that that agrees with Alexa and likes these velvety tones, please,
by all means I would be I would be more
than happy to oblige, because it's again, it's something that
you know I can do here in the house. I
have the software where I can. I can if you
(23:39):
send me the AD copy, I can read that, and
that can put music on things. I have a producer
that can help me out with that sort of thing.
And not only that, my long term Social Security disability
checks don't go all that far. So if I can
generate a couple of extra ducats from doing that, then
then all the better.
Speaker 2 (23:58):
That would be great, absolutely, And I think it's so
incredible just your passion and your excitement, and also all
the different careers, all the different avenues that you are
taking are very impressive and I find very very inspiring.
Before the end of the show, we have a few
minutes left. What would you say to any of my
(24:18):
listeners that are here and they're struggling or they're feeling
a little hopeless, that they're saying, why, I don't know
what this all means, what's the next step? What would
you say to them?
Speaker 1 (24:29):
Well, I would say that they need to reach out
for people that have their back, whether that's family members
or friends. I would also say that those people that
they reach out for need to be positive. You don't
want to be surrounding yourself with people who are negative
because you know, I use the term going down the
(24:50):
rabbit hole. It's very easy to go down the rabbit
hole and have what they like to call pity parties,
and you can't. You know, you can have them every
once in a while, but you can't wallow in pity
and in sorrow and woe is Me type of a thing.
So I would say I would surround myself with people
who are are positive and that are going to have
your back. And then the other thing is I would say,
(25:13):
you have to occupy your mind. You have to be
involved in something, whether that's reading a book or listening
to a podcast, or getting out of your house and
opening up that circle where you're catching up with old
friends or making new friends, maybe working on a project
something like that. I think idle time is what if
(25:35):
I say, the Devil's playground type of thing. Yes, yes, yes,
so I think that those are all things and you know,
as I'm saying them, I'm you know, looking pointing the
finger back at me. I need to I need to
take myself up on some of that, on some of
that or what I said there, because I know that
I need to get involved with catching up with some
(25:55):
old friends more. And but I think that those are
some things that it could be a start, you know,
could be a start.
Speaker 2 (26:00):
Pep absolutely and you never know when you take those
first steps in those and sometimes people don't think, oh,
what's that going to make an impact? It does. It
makes a huge impact. And it's taking those first steps
and being able to say, who knows what's going to
come out of it. I always find other doors open networking.
You know, there's always something that could come out of it,
(26:21):
and you never know who you're gonna meet and never
find out about yourself. That's something that really is like, Wow,
I'm good at this. I feel passionate about this. I
could do something like this. And I'm so happy Eric
connected us and I'm so excited to keep hearing more
and more about you and to listen to your podcast
more and just have you back on the show. So again,
(26:43):
thank you so much for coming out. It was such
an honor to have you on my show. And hear
your story.
Speaker 1 (26:49):
You're welcome, Alexai. It was my pleasure. I appreciate the
opportunity and as I said, you know, we're all in
this together, and if we can help our fellow man
and woman out, then all the more up for that.
And so again, thank you for the opportunity. I look
forward to keeping up the dialogue with you in the future.
Speaker 2 (27:12):
Absolutely. And it's also you know you Rick.
Speaker 1 (27:14):
I have to say thanks to Eric. Also much money.
Oh you'll love it.
Speaker 2 (27:18):
Thank you, Eric, Thank you.
Speaker 1 (27:20):
You know he loves a shout out.
Speaker 2 (27:23):
Thank you And what an incredible way. Tonight is my
last show of the summer season. I'll start back again
in September. But what an incredible way to end this
season of Insight into Healing with such hope and inspiration.
And for you everyone listening, keep pushing forward, keep following
your dreams, and keep knowing that you make an impact
and never give up. We're here for you. So everyone,
(27:46):
thank you again for tuning in. If you have any
questions or would like to be a guest or show ideas,
please send an email to Insight into Healing at gmail
dot com. You can also find us at askalecxotherapy on
faithbook book and on Instagram. Everyone have a good night
and God bless
Block host Radio.
Speaker 2 (00:04):
Hi everyone, and welcome back to Insight into Healing. My
name is Alexa Servo Didiona. I'm your host. Thank you
so much for tuning in each week and sending in
your questions to Insight into Healing at gmail dot com. Well,
tonight's episode is so powerful. Tonight I have John McLevy.
(00:24):
His story is a story of struggle, strength and resilience.
Through his journey in life, he has been able to
move forward and become an inspiration to many. It is
my honor to introduce John mcilvy. Thank you so much
for joining us this evening and so happy to have
you here on Insight into Healing.
Speaker 1 (00:44):
It is my pleasure, Alexa, I thank you for the
opportunity to speak with you and your audience.
Speaker 2 (00:50):
Absolutely no. One of my past guests, Eric Aaron Alter,
who has been on the show numerous times and the
Alexa Show, connected us and he explained to us your
story and everything of you moving forward, and I just
said I have to have you on the show. So
if you could get still in my listeners, where is she?
Where did your story begin?
Speaker 1 (01:10):
Well? Eric and I grew up on the mean streets
and short hills, New Jersey, and we both went to
Melbourne High School. Eric was a couple of years behind me.
I burned in nineteen hundred and eighty six. From there,
I went to Providence College in Rhode Island and was
(01:32):
kind of trying to figure out what I wanted to
do with my life. And once I got into school,
I had a friend that was doing an internship at
a local television station. She was working in the sports department,
and I was always a sports guy. Eric will tell
you I played a number of sports in high school,
and if I wasn't on the field or the court,
I was watching them. And I thought, Hey, if I
(01:54):
could find a job where I could get paid to
watch sports, because I knew I wasn't going to be
playing for professionally, then I said, that sounds like it's
for me. So I interned at a local ABCTV affiliate
in Rhode Island for three years and got tremendous experience.
So when I graduated, I was ready built to work
(02:16):
at a TV station, and so I got a job
right out of school at a place called Sports News Network.
It was down in Arlington, Virginia, and I worked four
o'clock in the afternoon to three o'clock in the morning
when all the games were over, and then I had
an hour drive home. So those nights were harry, to
say the least. And so I had really gotten bitten
by the bug. And the company was great. Unfortunately, we
(02:38):
went bankrupt in about nine months, and so I was
back out looking for a job. And at the time,
this is the early nineties, the gold standard was ESPN,
and I really wanted to work at ESPN. And I
went to a job fair in San Diego in June
of ninety two and there were six hundred people that
were there and they interviewed two people and I was
(02:58):
lucky enough to get one of the interviews. I thought
I did really well. And again that was June of
nineteen ninety two. August rolls around, and unfortunately, on August nineteen,
I had gone to bed that night and I woke
up in the middle of the night and I wasn't
feeling well and I thought, you know, I was living
(03:18):
in the basement at the time, back in my home.
I thought, you know, I had probably better go upstairs
and get my parents to maybe take me to the
hospital because I just don't feel good. And Alexa. From there,
I can remember walking towards the stairs and feeling like
I was going to faint, and then that's all I remember.
I don't remember walking up my basement steps, and I
(03:38):
don't remember falling down, but I fell down the complete
flight of steps, and I wake up at the bottom
and I am completely paralyzed from head to toe. And
at that point I could hear my father coming down
the stairs, and I really didn't have any you know, breaths.
I didn't really have much ung vital lung capacity because
(04:00):
my injury was so high on my spinal cord that
all I could do was whisper to him, you know,
don't touch me. Don't touch me, because oftentimes if you
try to move people you can you can make something worse.
And so that was pretty much the beginning of my
new life. I was twenty four years old and the
Milbourne First Date Squad brought me up to Overlook Hospital
and there my journey as a newly spinal cord injured
(04:24):
individual began.
Speaker 2 (04:26):
Wow, you have really a conscious a lot, and you've
been able to use this which is so empowering, which
is so amazing. Why I've also wanted to have you
on the show because so many times, these horrific events
happen and it's hard to try to understand why or
explain why. But I think the importance of that journey
(04:46):
for you, of resilience and how you've kept moving forward.
What was that like for you? What did you use
to help you kind of keep moving forward and find
that hope?
Speaker 1 (04:57):
Yeah, well, I'll tell you early on that hope was
hard to find, you know. I mean here, I was
just just the night before my accident. I was down
at the running through through town, running around the track
at Melbourne High School, four or five miles and then
all of a sudden, you know, and then a span
of about twelve hours, I can't wiggle my toes and
I can't, I can't do anything like that, and so
(05:20):
it takes a while. I must say, it was not
something that I was right ready to take this on
because you know, these injuries, they affect you so much physically.
Like I mentioned to you, I couldn't wiggle my toes,
I could, I could hardly breathe. And you know, final
cord injuries, anything below the level of your injury, the
(05:42):
muscles are going to be affected. And you know, two
of the bigger muscles in our body that people don't
like to talk about are you're bow and bladder and
so you lose all you know, all of that, so
you can't have trouble with that, and you have you
know whether it's somebody's gonna walk or whether they're gonna
be able to himself, and so all of that takes
(06:02):
its toll on you physically, but these injuries really affect
you almost more so mentally because you're trying to think,
you know, how am I going to be able to
do all these things again? And you have to Number one,
have a strong family, which I had in spades. My
family is amazing. My father was the quarterback and he
made sure that anybody that came into my room had
(06:24):
a smile on their face and a positive attitude. And
he was my rock and my hero. Unfortunately we lost
him in twenty fifteen, but he was the man. And
my sister Susan, who to this day is my biggest cheerleader,
who doesn't let me have a bad day and is
constantly pushing me, telling me you can do it, you
can do it, even at times when I don't think
(06:45):
I can. And my mom, you know, your mom is
always with you, and she has bent over backwards in
more ways than one to help me out through the years.
So you need a strong family behind you and great friends.
There were oftentimes when I was at Kessler, I did
my rehabilitation at Kessler Institute for Rehabilities. Hope.
Speaker 2 (07:13):
See it's still there. I think we lost you there
for a second. Yes, So you know, I think it's
really important as we hear John speaking the importance of
that struggle. And sometimes when those times, if I've spoken
so many times on the show, when it seems times
can be so dark, when it's so hard to lift
(07:35):
your head up sometimes, or when you don't see that
light at the end of the tunnel, that it's okay
to start visualizing that there can be that hope and
that light. And John, welcome back. And it's been so
amazing to be able to hear your story but also
to really hear your strength. And I think so many
(07:57):
times we don't really realize right away what our journey
is going to be moving forward, but it's finding that
hope and rebuilding that hope. And maybe we don't know
what it looks like in this new chapter, but being
able to find it it does.
Speaker 1 (08:13):
Yeah, you have to because you know, Alexa. I mean,
the way I look at it is, we all have
one bite at the apple. You know, we're all here
for however many years we're going to be here for.
And I had some friends at Kessler that chose to
go down the rabbit hole and are just bitter and
can't accept it and can't move on, and they just
(08:36):
stay in their room. They didn't go to therapy, and
they really just weren't getting with the program, if you
know what I mean. And so I just am somebody
that I like to wake up on the sunny side
of the street all the time, against all odds, because
I know that when my feet hit the floor in
the morning, my day is just beginning. And it's hard.
I mean, I can't tell you. I tell you know
(08:59):
my friends sometimes you wouldn't believe just you know what,
what I'm dealing with here and with with people like
me or are dealing with. And so I just decide
that I'm not going to go down that route, and
I'm gonna put on a happy face and I'm gonna
I'm gonna make the most of what I have. And
that is what I've been trying to do with with
(09:22):
the peer mentorship that I do. I'm the peer Peer
Counseling coordinator at Kessler these days, and it's my job
to go into rooms where people have just had life
altering accidents or falls or you know, we have injuries
of all types, whether it's car accidents or gunshots or
falls and that type of thing, and they're there probably
(09:46):
within the first you know, two or three weeks of
this happening to them, and they're there to rehab, but
they're also there to have their minds rehabbed. And that's
sort of where I come in, and I go into
the room and I explain that we we offer something
where we can maybe find someone who has a similar
injury to the one that they have sustained, but that
has been living in the community with it for a
(10:08):
number of years and has kind of figured out, you know,
what life is all about again, sort of one way
to skin a cat that was more than one way
to skin a cat. That was something that my occupational
therapist told me all these moons ago. And we offer
that because we tell them it's one thing to be
able to talk to your doctor or your therapist, even
your family members able bodied people, but you know, they
(10:31):
might have compassion and they love you, but they don't
necessarily know what you're going through, whereas I could bring
somebody in who has a similar injury that knows exactly
what they're going through and what the future for them
might look like, and that it can be a fulfilling
life and it's something that they can do with.
Speaker 2 (10:50):
The game changer of what you're talking about is being
able to reach them where they are mentally and where
they are emotionally, because yes, of course the physical part
is a huge chapter of it, but I think it's
also the mental and the emotional and being able to
reach that person to start building their spirits or start
to bring some of those spirits and that hope out
(11:11):
and being having someone to speak to them who's gone
through that. So your role is really that game changing
moment because we hear so many times in people's stories,
whatever they have had to go through, there usually are
those one or two people that they have met that
have spoken to them in one of their darkest days,
in their darkest moments that they remember has given them
(11:33):
that wow, even though they might not want to hear it,
they were able to get that glimpse of hope and saying, Wow,
I have someone here that's on my team.
Speaker 1 (11:42):
Yes, And I have to tell you. One thing that's
been really cathartic for me is as I mentioned earlier on,
I was a big sports guy growing up. I had
a friend that asked me to help him out. He
was starting to coach youth basketball in Milburn, and he
asked me to come and, you know, help him out.
And I thought, she's I can't hold a basketball anymore,
(12:05):
let alone dribble one. And I really have a hard
time walking. I mean, I thought, what help could I be?
And I went that first day, and you know, I
really didn't do very much. And you know, the next
day I went back, and you know, as the weeks
went by, I would interject things here and there because
I knew the game and I loved the game. And
then by the end of the season, I was, you know,
(12:26):
really a big part of the whole thing. And then
the next year he told me he got really busy
at work and he had to go. So it's like,
all right, now you're the man, and so I was
the I became the head coach and I did that
for twenty years, and it was a labor of love
and I telled the boys, I said, any joy that
you guys got out of the season, I got tenfold
from from you know, having that athletic background and that
(12:50):
competition that I lacked when I didn't, you know, when
I didn't have my legs and my arms to really
take part in stuff like that anymore. And so I've
gotten h I've got numerous emails and cards over the
years from from parents telling me that, you know, their
son learned a lot about basketball, but they also learned
(13:11):
a lot more about what life is like with having
someone like me coaching them and being around them and
you know, not you know, giving into what the situation was,
but to just live live the life that I had
and without having any drawbacks. And so that was always
something that has stood out to me and.
Speaker 2 (13:33):
Absolutely and those children on that basketball team really learned
what life is really about. I mean, it really puts
things in perspective. And those are one of those, you know,
as they say, priceless moments that money can't buy. That's
something that you know, that's something that they have learned,
that that gift no one else could ever give them.
And I think it's so important that they'll be able
(13:55):
to use that to pay it forward, but that you
were able to use your experience and pay it forward,
and you also have a podcast that is just amazing
and really helping so many people tell us about that.
Speaker 1 (14:09):
Yes I do, and I thank you for asking. I have.
As I said in the beginning, I'm sort of a
frustrated sports guy and a communicator, and so back when
COVID hit and everybody was stuck in their house, it
was kind of like, Okay, what am I going to
do with my time? And for years and years and years,
(14:30):
I used to tell all my friends at Kessler when
I would go back for outpatient therapy, I said, you know,
I'm going to start a podcast and I'm going to
call it the Quadcast. And everybody got a kick out
of that, because technically the level of my injury, I'm
considered a QUAD. So then I we'd go back and
I would see them six months later and they'd say, hey,
how's that thing going, And I said, well, I don't
(14:52):
have the equipment, or I don't have this, or I
don't have that. Well, finally, when COVID rolled around, I said,
you know what, I'm just going to buy a laptop.
I got a good laptop and and I was able
to download some software. I bought a good microphone and
I just said, I'm going to go for it, and
I had no idea really what I was doing. I
put together a phrase that I said that this podcast
is mainly for and about folks like me who have
(15:15):
had their lives affected by a spinal cord injury, but
is really for anyone who just wants to be inspired.
And I call it a thirty to forty five minute
session of OT and PT for the soul. And what
I do Alexa is I look for folks who have
had themselves spinal cord injuries and have gone on to
do amazing things in spite of them from wheelchairs, some
(15:37):
of them most of them from wheelchairs, a lot of
them very high quads who have really no control over
their legs or their arms. But folks who have gone
on Shark Tank and actually gotten money from the sharks
and have started two and three different businesses. Is a multimillionaire.
I've also had an NFL football player join me. Utley
(16:00):
was injured back in the late nineteen eighties on the
football field that had my friend Eric Legrand, who folks
in New Jersey might recognize that name. He was injured
playing football for Rutgers University a number of years ago
and has gone on to do some amazing things, and
then you know, just some other people. I use the
(16:21):
term necessity is the mother of all invention. People who
for one reason or another aren't able to do anything
any longer, and so they invent something that will help
them to accomplish a task and have started businesses that way.
Speaker 2 (16:35):
And I think that's so incredible because you know, sometimes
when you don't know what else could there be that
intuition at being able to be creative and doing something.
And I find that, especially with podcasts and shows, the
audience really draws to that. They want to know the truth.
They want to also hear someone who is vulnerable but
(16:55):
also is passionate and is inspiring and can share that
stories so people can relate to it in their own
struggle in their own life to be able to be
inspired to know what I remember that moment when I
really feel like I couldn't move or feel like I
couldn't emotionally do anything, and being able to use these
moments in these different shows and episodes to help them
(17:17):
get through those tough times, and then especially during COVID,
was an incredible time for these shows and podcasts to
be out because so many people found them. They almost
had to have the time. They had too much time,
and they had to start researching ways of being inventive
or also being able to pass time, but to find
what was going on with them. If they couldn't go
(17:38):
see friends, or if they couldn't go into therapy, or
they didn't have their job or something to distract them,
they needed that moment to themselves for a while to
be able to say, Okay, what's inside of me? What
comes for me? And sometimes those are the most beautiful
gifts and stories and inventions that are out there.
Speaker 1 (17:56):
Absolutely, and the idea was to record these for newly
injured folks so that they could see that, yeah, my
lot in life right now is not what I thought
it would be, well not what I wanted it to be,
and you know, for all intents and purposes, it's going
to be a tough life. But again, it's not the
end of the world, and it beats the alternative. And
(18:16):
then I started thinking it could also be for folks
like me. This August nineteen will be thirty one years
since I had my accident, and it could be for
people who have been injured for a number of years
that they could see that hey, listen, I could still
do something with what I have here if I put
my mind to it again. Any sort of inspirational stories.
(18:37):
As I said, it's mainly for folks who've had spinal
cord injuries, but for anybody that just wants to be inspired.
And you know who can't be inspired hearing a story
about somebody who who is completely paralyzed from head to
toe but sits in board meetings and is the head
of a company. And I have a friend who started
a shoe company because he couldn't get shoes on. Now
(19:00):
he's got a huge shoe company and he's affecting not
only his world but everybody else's. And so it's, you know,
picking up the pieces and moving along with what you
still have.
Speaker 2 (19:12):
Yes, yes, and yes it's a hard journey once we
have to pick up the pieces and move forward. But
I think the most important piece while going through it
is knowing that it can be done. Yes, it's not
it might not be easy. Yes, it's not going to
happen overnight, but that's okay. Some of those are the
best things that come out of it that take that
(19:33):
time that you're able to cultivate and really bring your
heart and soul into it so others can hear it
and feel that and be able to have it ring
true for them. How can we find your show? Where
is it airing? How can people follow you?
Speaker 1 (19:49):
People can find my show. They can find all of
my episodes on my websites, which is www dot quadcast.
That's QUA D B A s T dot org, quadcast
dot org. And then you can also find me on Facebook.
(20:09):
The name is John McLevy. I'll spell that it's mc
capital A L E A V as in Victor E y.
And then I'm also on Instagram. I have a couple
of accounts on Instagram. One is T D Johnny fourteen.
That's T D J O h n n Y fourteen,
(20:35):
and then the other one is t quadcast and that's
q U A D D A S T. I'm also
on Twitter and it's John J. Mclev uh and I
also have an account for my quadcast on Twitter as well.
I'm pretty new to all of this social media stuff.
(20:56):
I know, Alexa, we didn't have any of this stuff
when I was a kid. Up in the dark ages
in the eighties, and so I have my niece and
nephew helped me out with all of that. But confusing, right,
I don't even know what I'm saying all these different things.
Speaker 2 (21:13):
They didn't have it when I was growing up. Beat
it like I had to learn all of this and say, okay,
let's see what happens, especially during shows. As they say, Also,
I'm also an actress and sometimes the show must go on.
We don't ever know what's going to happen.
Speaker 1 (21:26):
Yeah, we don't right when we were kids. Oh yeah,
electricity was just coming around. Oh that's so funny.
Speaker 2 (21:33):
You know one other things, So go ahead, go ahead.
Speaker 1 (21:36):
Also, yeah, what's next for me? You know what I'm
trying to do is I am actually trying to get
into recording voiceovers. I'm trying to get into the voiceover
world because back in the day, my occupational therapists told me, John,
you can't dwell on what does not work for you anymore.
(21:57):
And for me, my injuries an interesting one. It's very
high on my spinal cord, but my upper body is
oftentimes has been more affected than my lower body. It's
called central cord syndrome and They told me to think
of myself as an upside down para. Now, you know,
with paraplegics, their legs don't work, so they're in wheelchairs.
(22:19):
In my case, they said, John, you'll probably walk, but
you'll have little to no use of your upper body.
And they were really true with that. I really have
little to know use of fine motor skills, like I
can't do buttons and zippers and shirts. I can't lift
my arms up over my head. I really can't do
much with that. So one thing that still works for
(22:39):
me is that I can accentuate and I joke around
with people. Is my big mouth. So I started doing
the podcast one and I'm also looking to do some
recording of voiceovers if I can. So, if there's anybody
else my mind, you.
Speaker 2 (22:56):
Must have read my mind, because I was going to literally, honestly,
I was going to tell you you have the perfect
voice for podcast, and I was going to say, you're
really look into doing some more, you look into voice
over other type of work, because you have that voice.
It's very polished, it's very clear. I support you totally, said,
anyone who's listening, you're ready, Yeah.
Speaker 1 (23:18):
Please, if you, if you if there's anyone out there
that that agrees with Alexa and likes these velvety tones, please,
by all means I would be I would be more
than happy to oblige, because it's again, it's something that
you know I can do here in the house. I
have the software where I can. I can if you
(23:39):
send me the AD copy, I can read that, and
that can put music on things. I have a producer
that can help me out with that sort of thing.
And not only that, my long term Social Security disability
checks don't go all that far. So if I can
generate a couple of extra ducats from doing that, then
then all the better.
Speaker 2 (23:58):
That would be great, absolutely, And I think it's so
incredible just your passion and your excitement, and also all
the different careers, all the different avenues that you are
taking are very impressive and I find very very inspiring.
Before the end of the show, we have a few
minutes left. What would you say to any of my
(24:18):
listeners that are here and they're struggling or they're feeling
a little hopeless, that they're saying, why, I don't know
what this all means, what's the next step? What would
you say to them?
Speaker 1 (24:29):
Well, I would say that they need to reach out
for people that have their back, whether that's family members
or friends. I would also say that those people that
they reach out for need to be positive. You don't
want to be surrounding yourself with people who are negative
because you know, I use the term going down the
(24:50):
rabbit hole. It's very easy to go down the rabbit
hole and have what they like to call pity parties,
and you can't. You know, you can have them every
once in a while, but you can't wallow in pity
and in sorrow and woe is Me type of a thing.
So I would say I would surround myself with people
who are are positive and that are going to have
your back. And then the other thing is I would say,
(25:13):
you have to occupy your mind. You have to be
involved in something, whether that's reading a book or listening
to a podcast, or getting out of your house and
opening up that circle where you're catching up with old
friends or making new friends, maybe working on a project
something like that. I think idle time is what if
(25:35):
I say, the Devil's playground type of thing. Yes, yes, yes,
so I think that those are all things and you know,
as I'm saying them, I'm you know, looking pointing the
finger back at me. I need to I need to
take myself up on some of that, on some of
that or what I said there, because I know that
I need to get involved with catching up with some
(25:55):
old friends more. And but I think that those are
some things that it could be a start, you know,
could be a start.
Speaker 2 (26:00):
Pep absolutely and you never know when you take those
first steps in those and sometimes people don't think, oh,
what's that going to make an impact? It does. It
makes a huge impact. And it's taking those first steps
and being able to say, who knows what's going to
come out of it. I always find other doors open networking.
You know, there's always something that could come out of it,
(26:21):
and you never know who you're gonna meet and never
find out about yourself. That's something that really is like, Wow,
I'm good at this. I feel passionate about this. I
could do something like this. And I'm so happy Eric
connected us and I'm so excited to keep hearing more
and more about you and to listen to your podcast
more and just have you back on the show. So again,
(26:43):
thank you so much for coming out. It was such
an honor to have you on my show. And hear
your story.
Speaker 1 (26:49):
You're welcome, Alexai. It was my pleasure. I appreciate the
opportunity and as I said, you know, we're all in
this together, and if we can help our fellow man
and woman out, then all the more up for that.
And so again, thank you for the opportunity. I look
forward to keeping up the dialogue with you in the future.
Speaker 2 (27:12):
Absolutely. And it's also you know you Rick.
Speaker 1 (27:14):
I have to say thanks to Eric. Also much money.
Oh you'll love it.
Speaker 2 (27:18):
Thank you, Eric, Thank you.
Speaker 1 (27:20):
You know he loves a shout out.
Speaker 2 (27:23):
Thank you And what an incredible way. Tonight is my
last show of the summer season. I'll start back again
in September. But what an incredible way to end this
season of Insight into Healing with such hope and inspiration.
And for you everyone listening, keep pushing forward, keep following
your dreams, and keep knowing that you make an impact
and never give up. We're here for you. So everyone,
(27:46):
thank you again for tuning in. If you have any
questions or would like to be a guest or show ideas,
please send an email to Insight into Healing at gmail
dot com. You can also find us at askalecxotherapy on
faithbook book and on Instagram. Everyone have a good night
and God bless
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I’m Jay Shetty host of On Purpose the worlds #1 Mental Health podcast and I’m so grateful you found us. I started this podcast 5 years ago to invite you into conversations and workshops that are designed to help make you happier, healthier and more healed. I believe that when you (yes you) feel seen, heard and understood you’re able to deal with relationship struggles, work challenges and life’s ups and downs with more ease and grace. I interview experts, celebrities, thought leaders and athletes so that we can grow our mindset, build better habits and uncover a side of them we’ve never seen before. New episodes every Monday and Friday. Your support means the world to me and I don’t take it for granted — click the follow button and leave a review to help us spread the love with On Purpose. I can’t wait for you to listen to your first or 500th episode!
Dateline NBC
Current and classic episodes, featuring compelling true-crime mysteries, powerful documentaries and in-depth investigations. Follow now to get the latest episodes of Dateline NBC completely free, or subscribe to Dateline Premium for ad-free listening and exclusive bonus content: DatelinePremium.com