Meet the Creator: Adina Maynard

Oncology nurse. Word nerd. Chaos enthusiast. Dementia fighter.

Adina Maynard spent over a decade as an oncology nurse, guiding patients and families through some of the toughest moments of their lives. She’s been the steady hand, the calm presence, and—on more than one occasion—an answered prayer in scrubs.

But in her late 40s, after years of 12-hour shifts stretching into 14, and the emotional heaviness that comes with them, Adina started praying for a

new way to help people—something creative, life-giving, and maybe even fun.

Enter: the weird little word game she’d secretly played in her head for years.

Adina’s passion for brain health runs deep. Dementia has touched every corner of her family—her mom is living with it now, and both her grandmother and mother-in-law lived with the disease before they passed away. Watching the mind decline while the body remains is devastating, and it fuels her mission to help others “do their part” to keep their noggin sharp.

So when a divine nudge (via an article about Wordle) collided with her lifelong love of words, she decided to bring her mental game to life. With no tech background, no investors, and no formal training in game development, she bootstrapped her way from prayer to prototype—armed with faith, grit, and a whole lot of Google Docs.

The result? Cattywampus—a fast, clever, family-friendly word game that helps people keep their brains engaged and sharp while having a blast. Because just as physical movement keeps the body strong, mental play is essential for aging well.

Today, Adina’s on a mission to help people age well, play smart, and embrace the beautiful chaos of learning something new. Whether you’re recovering from cancer, fighting brain fog, juggling a dozen open tabs, or simply want a healthier screen-time habit, Cattywampus is her love letter to your noggin.

Because nothing we go through is ever wasted. And yes—even chaos can be healing.