Doctors said he wouldn’t survive childhood. At 69, Greg Smith is believed to be the oldest living person in the world with his condition…and he’s got a book to prove the odds wrong.
Greg Smith was diagnosed with osteogenesis imperfecta (brittle bone disease) before his second birthday and given a life expectancy of 25 years.
In this conversation with Brigitte Cutshall, Greg opens up about growing up in an inaccessible world, the parents who refused to give up on him, and how he went on to earn a social work degree, build a 30-year career serving others, and write his memoir “Stronger Than Bone” — one of the only first-person accounts of living with this rare condition that affects fewer than 50,000 people worldwide.
3 Takeaways:
(1) Persistence is Vital: Don’t let “bad days” define you; focus on taking life one day at a time to build mental and spiritual strength.
(2) Value Your Support System: Success is a collective effort fueled by “angels”—the caregivers and friends who provide essential support and compassion.
(3) Seek Daily Joy: Cultivating passions like music, sports, or writing is therapeutic and prevents your circumstances from putting you in a “box”.
Grab “Stronger Than Bone” in e-book format or audiobook. It’s a listen worth making time for on your next long drive. https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0FRNPJCRX
Connect with Greg on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and Bluesky as @wheelingreg or reach him directly by email ([email protected])