The Grit We Lost: A Reflection on Rod Collins Overcoming the Odds and the America We Once Knew
By Maureen Steele
Special to Boston Broadside
Listen to this moving essay in the author’s own voice here.
There are some friendships in life that remain etched in the heart, no matter
the passage of time. For me, Jay Collins and his older brother, Rod, have
always held a special place.
We first met in seventh grade—just kids finding our way in the world, with
dreams as big as the sky and no inkling of the roads that lay ahead. Rod was
always the older, wiser one, and Jay, my peer, shared the kind of camaraderie
that comes from growing up side by side. Time, as it does, wove its web,
carrying us in and out of each other’s lives. But recently, when I reconnected
with Rod and Jay, I discovered something extraordinary—something more than nostalgia, more than the joy of rekindled friendship. I found a story of grit, determination, and triumph that embodies what we, as a nation, seem to
have forgotten.
Rod Collins should not be here. A couple of years ago, a stroke brought his life to the edge of a precipice. His wife, Cara—also a friend from childhood—was told by doctors to prepare for the worst. Doctors were certain of his fate: if he survived, (and they were fairly certain he would not) Rod would never speak again. Or walk.
The stroke had ravaged a part of his brain that, by all medical accounts, controlled his ability to form words. But Rod and his wife Cara, in the face of insurmountable odds, refused to accept that narrative. His brother Jay and Jay’s wife Lindsey also refused to accept that narrative, and collectively they fought.
Together, the four of them created a fortress of love and determination that didn’t just survive Rod’s stroke; it thrived because of their collective will to fight.
Their children—an extension of that bond—have witnessed firsthand what it means to be family, in the truest, grittiest sense of the word.
Rod began to talk—not coherently, not fluently, but persistently. Even as his
body betrayed him, his spirit refused to yield. That relentless drive, that
stubborn belief in the impossible, became his lifeline. It wasn’t just Rod who refused to give up. Cara didn’t give up. Jay didn’t give up. Lindsay didn’t
give up.
They pulled together, rallied around him, and refused to let despair
take hold. It reminded me of something we used to see all the time in this
country: communities, families, neighbors coming together in times of crisis. Everyone doing what they could, not because they had to, but because that’s just what you did.
Today, Rod speaks with clarity and conviction. He walks, and though he still
battles to regain full use of his arm, he is a living testament to the power of
determination.
Sitting across from him in September, after years apart, I marveled at his optimism, his strength, and his refusal to quit. It was as if time had rewound, and we were back in the halls of West High, where hope was boundless and possibilities endless.
Rod’s story is more than a personal triumph and a family pulling together; it
is a mirror held up to our culture—a reminder of the grit and resolve we once
revered as a nation.
There was a time when Americans embodied the very spirit Rod and his family have shown. Americans didn’t take no for an answer. We didn’t fold at the first sign of adversity. We didn’t let someone else’s verdict—be it a doctor, a critic, or an adversary—define our destiny.
We were a nation of fighters, innovators, and problem solvers. We believed
that through hard work, faith, and determination, we could overcome
anything. And we did.
But somewhere along the way, we lost that “fight”. The generations that
followed us—the children born in the 80s, 90s, and beyond—seem to have
never learned the value of resilience.
They too often surrender to circumstance; seeking comfort over challenge, consensus over conviction. They lean on experts and algorithms, rather than their own critical thinking. The grit that built this country, that carried us through wars, depressions, and countless personal trials, is going extinct.
Rod’s story is a reminder that we can find our way back to that place. His
refusal to give up, his choice to defy the odds, and his willingness to fight for
his own recovery stands as a beacon of hope for all of us. It is not easy to
overcome adversity. It takes sweat, tears, and a relentless belief in the
impossible. But it is possible—and it is worth it.
America needs that spirit now more than ever. We are at a crossroads as a
nation, and our challenges may not come in the form of a stroke, but they are no less daunting. Will we rise to meet them with the courage and conviction of a Rod Collins and the Collins family, or will we succumb to the complacency that has crept into our national identity? The choice is ours.
As I sat with Rod, Cara, Jay and his wonderful wife Lindsey that evening,
sharing memories and marveling at their journey, I was reminded of what it
means to fight. Rod fought for his life, his voice, and his independence—and
in doing so, he reminded me of the America I grew up in. An America that
didn’t quit. An America that believed in the power of grit.
America has always been at its best when we’ve pulled together, when we’ve
rallied for each other, and when we’ve refused to give up. We can be that
country again. We can rebuild our American Family. But first, we have to
remember how to fight—not just for ourselves, but for each other. And in
doing so, we’ll rediscover the strength that’s been there all along.
Perhaps it’s time we take a page from Rod’s book.
Perhaps it’s time we start talking again, no matter how hard it seems at first.
Perhaps it’s time we believe, as Rod did, that the impossible is simply the
starting point of something extraordinary.
This brilliant essay on the power of grit and resilience was inspired by Maureen Steele reuniting with old friends, and learning about the seemingly overwhelming obstacles they have been forced to overcome. See and hear how she, in the words of her dear friend and colleague, Ann Vandersteel, “crafts a story that touches the soul, using vivid language and masterful brevity to connect us all to the shared human experience. Once again, Maureen proves her ability to paint with words, offering a moving reflection on resilience that speaks to every heart. I’m proud to present this to you. You’ll also find her essays on American Made Substack and soon on the American Made Foundation website. She’ll be compiling her essays from the year into a book that promises to be a masterclass in the art of the written word.”
Contact Maureen Steele on X @maureensteele_ or MSteelePA@gmail.com