Check Out Andy Garcia-Ruse’s Story

Today we’d like to introduce you to Andy Garcia-Ruse.

Hi Andy, so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?
On February 1, 2019, I started working for KCFD Local 42 union as their new Behavioral Health Program Director. As a therapist, I was tasked to create a program better to support our first responders in the KC Metro. It was a dream job. I have many first responses in my family and was very passionate about this. However, on February 3, 2019, I was hit by another driver in a car accident. I sustained multiple physical injuries in addition to a Traumatic Brain Injury. I was fortunate to get into outpatient rehab almost immediately at Centerpoint Medical Center and had an amazing specialty physician, Dr. David Dyck, who managed my brain injury treatment.

Although I was going to rehab 3xs/a week (working on speech therapy, physical therapy, and vestibular therapy), I was not improving. I was getting worse. I started to have uncontrollable seizures, PTSD, sleep disturbance, and sensory processing disorders (e.g., lights, sound, touch). I wasn’t even allowed to drive anymore (due to my seizures), but I still tried to maintain as I’d always done. I went to work and tried my hardest. Still, I couldn’t even manage the pain from my head injury, not to mention the impact of my declining cognitive function (specifically aphasia, memory recall, sequencing, and other executive functions), in addition to my inability to complete my ADLs ( activities of daily living, e.g., bathing, dressing, etc.) that are required to have successful day-to-day functioning. By July, my clinical license was up for renewal, and I attempted to renew my license online but was unable. I received an error message. I then contacted the Board and inquired further. It turned out that having a TBI was an exclusionary criterion for practicing therapy. I was heartbroken at first but soon accepted that if I couldn’t even remember if I turned off my stove, then I shouldn’t be managing suicidal patients. My doctor lovingly said, “consider this your retirement.” By October 2019, I was no longer employed and lost the career that I worked so hard for; ergo, I lost an income that our two-income household depended upon. We had to sell our dream home, downsize, and move to another part of town.

I fell into deep despair for that first year. I had lost my sense of purpose, career, friends, colleagues, and home overnight. No one I knew had ever known anyone else with a TBI, so many people did not understand my TBI and its complex impact on all areas of my life. I still attended rehab 3xs/ week and had weekly mental health therapy sessions to address my PTSD and grief over losing my career and friends and to mourn the death of “me.” As I was learning to talk again, I would often go into a closet and read books aloud, trying to reform those neural pathways in the brain to make my mind, eyes, and tongue work together. I loved it! I loved reading away from judging ears and eyes. It brought me so much joy! Then one day, I started thinking about what I would do with my life. As a disabled person, I knew I had many limitations, but I still wanted to do something with the bit of energy I had to give. I ran across the book “Life Leadership Success Guidebook” by my former colleague, Dr. Jason Brooks. I was being nostalgic and re-living my old “glory” days in my career when suddenly, on page 14, a prompt asking for an “Above and Beyond Goal.” At that time, in 2018, I had written: “Write or narrate a book. I’ve been yearning to do so &I feel the need to follow through.” It was as if the clouds of heaven parted, a bright light shone, and a heavenly choir sang its confirmation. I knew what to do! I immediately searched for how to become an audiobook narrator. I quickly found a video on YouTube by a famous narrator, Sean Pratt, who I promptly reached out to for coaching and to learn how to get into audiobook narration.

I had found a new purpose. I had found joy again. Although I have many, many limitations that most audiobook narrators do not (e.g., double vision, extreme neuro fatigue, inability to do administrative work, etc.), which impacts my “career” and prevents me from doing all the things that others can, I found that I could be disabled and still have a fulfilling life. I found a new community and new friends. Also, within this new life, I’ve become a disability advocate within the audiobook industry. I run a private Facebook group for other disabled audiobook narrators, volunteer on committees, and give back by serving as a mentor for those like me; in hopes of bringing awareness for mental health, self-care, and disability inclusion.

Can you talk to us about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way? Would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
It has not been a smooth road for me in any way. Due to my TBI, I live with chronic, debilitating headaches, migraines (including hemiplegic migraines–which is a rare disorder that presents like a stroke and includes paralysis and facial droop, etc.), seizures, Raynauds, autoimmune diseases, neverending neuro fatigue (which requires me to nap frequently to “recharge”), etc. I quickly found that although I could do the narration, that was only a small part of the job. Seemingly simple things like emails, correspondence, administrative tasks, scheduling, etc., were tasks I was just incapable of completing. That didn’t stop me, though. I found a local stay-at-home mom, Kayla, who works as my virtual assistant. This workaround has been vital to my success. Outside of narration, I’ve also had to move through acceptance that there are things I can no longer do (e.g., ride a roller coaster, go ice skating, go to Chiefs games, etc.), and I’ve had to learn to advocate for myself and lay down firm boundaries regarding my limitations and managing expectations others have of me. I’ve done this by being exceptionally upfront with anyone and everyone about my disability. At first, I mourned the “old me,” but now I’ve reframed it that this “new me” is just an upgrade—” Andy 2.0.”

Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
I’m SAG-AFTRA Audiobook Narrator and voice-over actor. In audiobooks, I specialize in the following genres: Young Adult (YA), Sweet Romance, Rom-Com, Cozy Mystery, Sci-Fi/Fantasy, and LitFic. In Non-Fiction, I’m drawn to books that are inspirational, self-help based, or related to mental health or disability topics.

I’m proud that I’ve managed to stay busy/booked with work despite my disability. I also set myself a goal to give a presentation (something I used to do when I was a therapist but had not done since the injury due to my speech difficulties). I accomplished this spoke at three conferences in 2022 and presenting at Lone Jack High School’s Career Fair. I’m also proud that I wrote my first fiction novel in November 2022 (and published another book in November 2022 called “How to Become an Audiobook Narrator”).

What sets me apart from others is that I fully embrace who I am–shortcomings and all; I’m not afraid to be me. Also, since I’m an eternal optimist, I believe in myself and continue to push through all the valleys of life to reach the mountain tops.

What does success mean to you?
Many define success by the traditional metrics of winning awards, obtaining nationwide recognition, etc., but that is a significantly limiting measuring rod. To me, success is what you make of it. The fact that I’m alive, speaking, and able to contribute to the world in a way that brings me joy is a huge success! Also, due to the nature of my disability, every day brings an unlimited number of ever-changing obstacles and challenges, so when I accomplish something (seemingly) menial, such as checking off everything on my daily to-do list, I feel tremendous accomplishment! In my industry, I will probably never become a household name and probably never make the kind of money I did before becoming disabled, but that’s okay. As long as I continue to achieve the goals I set for myself and not compare my journey to the paths of others, I will always be successful.

Pricing:

• Pricing varies per audiobook and voice-over project; contact me for more information or schedule a free consultation

Contact Info:

• Website: www.andygarciaruse.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/theotherandygarcia
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/public/Andy-Garcia-Ruse
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/theotherandygarcia
• Twitter: https://twitter.com/otherandygarcia
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@theotherandygarcia
• Other: https://www.tiktok.com/@andygarciaruse

Image Credits
The two headshots were photographed by Kaylee from KC Photography (shot at Prospero’s Book store in KC)