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Maria Georgas<\/strong><\/a> got vulnerable with Joey Graziadei<\/strong><\/a> on the Tuesday, February 13, episode of The Bachelor<\/em><\/a>. The fiery contestant let Joey see past her \u201crough\u201d exterior as she opened up about one of the most traumatic times in her life.<\/p>\n \u201c[My mom] and I got into a really, really bad car accident when I was, like, one,\u201d Maria, 29, explained. \u201cA semi truck basically fell on top of my mom\u2019s car. It was really bad. It\u2019s crazy to even think about. My car seat was in, like, pieces. I was literally announced dead at the scene. It was in newspapers as a miracle at the time. It was a very scary situation.\u201d<\/p>\n The executive assistant told Joey, 28, that the accident led her mom to go into a \u201cbig depression\u201d after she broke almost every bone in her body. \u201cBeing a young age, I didn\u2019t recognize or understand any of that,\u201d she admitted. \u201cMy mom wasn\u2019t around for most of my childhood. [She] wasn\u2019t capable of being the mother she really wanted to.\u201d<\/p>\n Years later, Maria\u2019s relationship with her mom is still strained. \u201cWhen I was younger, I didn\u2019t really understand why my mom left,\u201d she said. \u201cShe wasn\u2019t around for me. She just wasn\u2019t around.\u201d The Canada native credited her father with \u201cfighting\u201d for her mom during those difficult times.<\/p>\n \u201cMy mom and I are still a work in progress,\u201d she added. \u201cIt\u2019s been so much better. She thought you were so cute and she\u2019s going to be excited to hopefully meet you.\u201d<\/p>\n Joey was grateful that Maria opened up to him and he gave her the group date rose after their conversation. It was an important moment for the reality television contestant, as she\u2019s been at the center of drama during her time on the show. On the Monday, February 12, episode, Maria was even put on an awkward two-on-one date with Sydney Gordon<\/strong><\/a> following their feud the previous week.<\/p>\n The drama between Maria and Sydney, 28, began when Sydney called Maria out for \u201cinvalidating\u201d Madina Alam\u2019s<\/strong> feelings about being the oldest woman on the show. Things intensified and were eventually brought to Joey\u2019s attention. He wound up eliminating Sydney because he felt like his connection with Maria was stronger.<\/p>\n After opening up about her near-fatal car accident, Maria told Joey why the drama on the show has upset her so much. \u201c[The car accident] was very tragic and for me, I came out alive,\u201d she explained. \u201cI don\u2019t have anything to complain about. I have what I have and I\u2019m going to really cherish every moment that I have and have so much fun. I don\u2019t entertain stupid little fights. I\u2019m not someone who dwells on things that might have happened. I always try to see the positive in things because I know how quickly things can change for somebody.\u201d<\/p>\n Maria is now one of ten women left hoping to fall in love with Joey. Their journey continues<\/a> with the next episode of The Bachelor<\/em> on February 20 at 8 p.m.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n