Content warning: This episode discusses combat injury, traumatic limb loss and newborn emergency surgery. If it raises anything for you, support is available: Wounded Heroes Australia crisis line 1300 532 112 (24/7 for ADF members, veterans and their families); Open Arms – Veterans & Families Counselling 1800 011 046 (24/7) | Lifeline 13 11 14 (24/7). 

Curtis McGrath was searching for landmines in Afghanistan when the ground beneath him changed his life forever. Two years into their relationship, Rachel was 1500km away when she got the call. 

In this episode, Curtis and Rachel sit down with Tiffany Dunk to talk about the day everything changed, the months of hospital treatment and rehab that followed, and the slow work of rebuilding a new normal.  

They open up about a proposal on top of a mountain in Canada, the wedding that scraped in just before COVID-19 hit, and becoming parents to a son whose own fight for life began just days after he was born. Plus, there's an exciting announcement about the newest addition to their family. 

To all veterans who may be watching or listening to this episode, we thank you for your service. 

Moments you'll hear: 
Rachel and Curtis' first meeting, and the door that got shut in his face 
The blunt question Rachel asked Curtis before he deployed 
The day in 2012 when everything changed 
The moment in hospital that made Curtis realise what life looked like now 
Meeting Prince Harry at the Invictus Games, and what Curtis really thought of him 
The proposal: a Banff Gondola, lots of stairs and a beautiful sunset 
A diagnosis days after their son Monty was born 
An exciting announcement about the newest addition to their family 

Thank you for listening ❤️ 

Before you leave...  

🗣️ Get in touch  

What did you think? We are a brand-new podcast and would love to hear from you as we build this together. Join our friendly Love Stories community and visit us at womensweekly.com.au/love-stories-podcast  

Email us your love stories (and any feedback) at awwlovestories@aremedia.com.au  

If you share your love story on social media, please tag us. We’re @womensweeklymag, and use the hashtag #AWWLoveStories 

Subscribe to The Australian Women’s Weekly at magshop.com.au/LOVESTORIES 👈🏽  

Sending thanks to our partners at Wounded Heroes Australia.  

You can help Wounded Heroes deliver emergency assistance to current Australian Defence Force members, veterans and their families by donating at: www.woundedheroes.org.au/actsofservice  

Need help now? Wounded Heroes crisis line 1300 532 112, 24/7, Australia wide. 

Credits 

Host: Tiffany Dunk 

Edited by Leah Porges 

Production by Leah Porges 

Our wonderful The Australian Women's Weekly team 

Our Head of Vodcasting is Rachel Fountain 

Learn more: The Australian Women's Weekly website

Content warning:&nbsp;This episode discusses combat injury,&nbsp;traumatic limb&nbsp;loss&nbsp;and newborn emergency&nbsp;surgery. If it raises anything for you, support is available: Wounded Heroes Australia crisis line 1300 532 112 (24/7 for ADF members,&nbsp;veterans&nbsp;and their families);&nbsp;Open Arms&nbsp;&ndash;&nbsp;Veterans &amp; Families Counselling 1800 011 046 (24/7) | Lifeline 13 11 14 (24/7).&nbsp;
Curtis McGrath was searching for landmines in Afghanistan when the ground beneath him changed his life forever. Two years into their relationship, Rachel was&nbsp;1500km away&nbsp;when she got the call.&nbsp;
In this episode, Curtis and Rachel sit down with Tiffany Dunk to talk about the day everything changed, the months of hospital&nbsp;treatment&nbsp;and rehab that followed, and the slow work of rebuilding a new normal.&nbsp;&nbsp;
They&nbsp;open up&nbsp;about a proposal on top of a mountain in Canada, the wedding that scraped in just before COVID-19 hit, and becoming parents to a son whose own fight for life began just days after he was born.&nbsp;Plus,&nbsp;there's&nbsp;an exciting announcement about the newest addition to their family.&nbsp;
To all veterans who may be watching or listening to this episode, we thank you for your service.&nbsp;
Moments&nbsp;you'll&nbsp;hear:&nbsp;
<ul>
<li>Rachel and Curtis' first meeting, and the door that got shut in his face&nbsp;</li>
<li>The blunt question Rachel asked Curtis before he deployed&nbsp;</li>
<li>The day in 2012 when&nbsp;everything changed&nbsp;</li>
<li>The moment in hospital that made Curtis&nbsp;realise&nbsp;what life looked like now&nbsp;</li>
<li>Meeting Prince Harry at the Invictus Games, and what Curtis really thought of him&nbsp;</li>
<li>The proposal:&nbsp;a&nbsp;Banff&nbsp;Gondola,&nbsp;lots&nbsp;of stairs&nbsp;and a beautiful sunset&nbsp;</li>
<li>A diagnosis days after their son Monty was born&nbsp;</li>
<li>An exciting announcement about the newest addition to their family&nbsp;</li>
</ul>
Thank you for listening ❤️&nbsp;
Before you leave...&nbsp;&nbsp;
🗣️ Get in touch&nbsp;&nbsp;
What did you think? We are a brand-new podcast and would love to hear from you as we build this together. Join our friendly&nbsp;Love Stories&nbsp;community and visit us at&nbsp;<a href="https://www.womensweekly.com.au/love-stories-podcast/">womensweekly.com.au/love-stories-podcast&nbsp;</a>&nbsp;
Email us your love stories (and any feedback) at&nbsp;<a href="mailto:awwlovestories@aremedia.com.au">awwlovestories@aremedia.com.au</a>&nbsp;&nbsp;
If you share your love story on social media,&nbsp;please&nbsp;tag&nbsp;us.&nbsp;We&rsquo;re&nbsp;@womensweeklymag, and use the hashtag #AWWLoveStories&nbsp;
Subscribe to&nbsp;The Australian Women&rsquo;s Weekly&nbsp;at&nbsp;<a href="https://auc-word-edit.officeapps.live.com/we/magshop.com.au/LOVESTORIES">magshop.com.au/LOVESTORIES</a>&nbsp;👈🏽&nbsp;&nbsp;
Sending thanks to our partners at Wounded Heroes&nbsp;Australia.&nbsp;&nbsp;
You can help Wounded Heroes deliver emergency&nbsp;assistance&nbsp;to current Australian&nbsp;Defence&nbsp;Force members,&nbsp;veterans&nbsp;and their families by donating at:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.woundedheroes.org.au/actsofservice">www.woundedheroes.org.au/actsofservice</a>&nbsp;&nbsp;
Need help now? Wounded Heroes crisis line 1300 532 112, 24/7, Australia wide.&nbsp;
Credits&nbsp;
Host: Tiffany Dunk&nbsp;
Edited by&nbsp;Leah Porges&nbsp;
Production by Leah Porges&nbsp;
Our wonderful&nbsp;The Australian Women's Weekly&nbsp;team&nbsp;
Our Head of Vodcasting is Rachel Fountain&nbsp;
Learn&nbsp;more:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.womensweekly.com.au/">The Australian Women's Weekly&nbsp;website</a>

What’s your love language? The Australian Women's Weekly Love Stories is for the chronically curious about the strongest of our emotions. Hosted by Tiffany Dunk, this podcast swaps cliché romcom endings for real, messy, magnetic connections told by unforgettable voices from The Australian Women’s Weekly universe. From lifelong mateship to unexpected soulmates to finding love both within and beyond yourself, Love Stories is intimate, surprising and quietly empowering.

What&rsquo;s your love language? The Australian Women's Weekly Love Stories is for the chronically curious about the strongest of our emotions. Hosted by Tiffany Dunk, this podcast swaps clich&eacute; romcom endings for real, messy, magnetic connections told by unforgettable voices from The Australian Women&rsquo;s Weekly universe. From lifelong mateship to unexpected soulmates to finding love both within and beyond yourself, Love Stories is intimate, surprising and quietly empowering.

Love Stories

Curtis McGrath was searching for landmines in Afghanistan in 2012 when he stepped on one and lost both legs. Two years into their relationship, Rachel got the call while sharing a bunk room with strangers more than a thousand kilometres away. On this episode of Acts of Service, they join Tiffany Dunk to talk about how they got through that difficult time, and what life looks like now. 