Episode 327-Finding Your Voice: Siblings, Stories, and Special Needs with Mila Maxwell

Send us a text Curiosity drives creativity in this heartfelt conversation with author Mila Maxwell, whose debut novel "Finding Lady Baltimore" emerged from a simple yet profound question: "What if something happened to me that allowed me to see her perspective?" This burning desire to understand her sister Sarah"s experience with cerebral palsy ultimately became the foundation for a work of fiction that blends real-life experiences with imaginative exploration. Maxwell"s journey from caregiver sibling to storyteller reveals the complex dynamics of growing up alongside someone with different abilities. Just 18 months older than Sarah, she naturally fell into a protective role that shaped her identity well into adulthood. Home videos captured young Mila directing her sister during bath time—early evidence of the responsibility she carried throughout her life. This pattern became so ingrained that when Maxwell became a mother herself, she had to consciously adapt her approach for her neurotypical son. What makes this conversation particularly valuable is Maxwell"s candid acknowledgment of the complicated emotions that accompany being a sibling caregiver. Rather than presenting an idealized version of her experience, she addresses the resentments and unspoken feelings that accumulated over years. Through writing, Maxwell found healing not just for herself but for her entire family. "It"s changed the whole family dynamic with my sister and my parents," she shares, highlighting how bringing these feelings into the light created opportunities for greater understanding. Beyond her writing, Maxwell embodies versatility as a self-described "multifaceted serial entrepreneur" whose career has spanned marketing, nutrition, personal training, and even volunteer firefighting. Her approach to life mirrors her creative process—organic, intuitive, and guided by what feels right in the moment rather than rigid planning. The most powerful takeaway from our discussion lies in Maxwell"s emphasis on individuality: "Everyone that has a disability, they"re still an individual," she notes, explaining that even people with the same diagnosis can have vastly different needs and personalities. This understanding extends to her philosophy that "we all have special needs"—a perspective that shifts the conversation from categorization to celebrating universal human diversity. Have you read "Finding Lady Baltimore" or connected with the sibling caregiver experience? Share your thoughts and join the conversation about how stories like these help normalize what it means to be part of a special needs family. Support the show