Rising Above with Becky Davidson

About Dawn & Lori

Dawn & Lori are long-time friends of Rising Above Ministries. As special needs parents, they “get it” and love having community with other moms. If you’ve attended By the Brook for the past few years, you will probably remember them as the entertainment! As good friends of Becky’s, these two will become regulars around here as they discuss different topics and challenges that special needs moms face. We’d love to hear from you about some of the topics you’d like them to discuss. Message us on Facebook or send an email to [email protected] to suggest topics!

Related Links

By the Brook Resilient Retreat

About LJ & Jessica

LJ & Jessica are the father and mother of 2 amazing children, Nadia Elizabeth (16) and Zion Alexander Coates (14). LJ is an intensive care nurse and Jessica is the Chief Executive Officer for a trade Association. They've been married for almost 17 years, and their son Zion has profound special needs. They are both natives of Alabama but currently live in Columbia, Maryland. 

Favorite Quotes

“I sent help, you just didn’t recognize it.” -Jessica

“I have to learn to recognize the support where people are.” - Jessica

“Zion has blessed my life. I feel chosen.” -Jessica

“I know I am a better person, because of my son’s life.” -Jessica

Related Links

Common Man, Extraordinary Call

Jess Ronne, who you might know as “Jess Plus the Mess,” has such a story to tell on her life of being a mom and caregiver of 8 children, one of whom has profound special needs. Her testimony and message will challenge and encourage you to be honest about the realities about caregiving and how to accept and ask for help.

About Jess

Jess Ronne is an author, speaker, podcast host, documentary producer,and caregiver advocate. She is founder and executive director of The Lucas Project—a non-profit dedicated to providing recognition, resources, and respite for special needs families. She and her husband Ryan live in Tennessee with their 8 children, including their son Lucas who has profound special needs. Her story of beauty from ashes has been shared on The Today Show, Daily Mail and Huffington Post and is detailed in her memoir Sunlight Burning at Midnight. To follow the ongoing saga she can be found at www.jessplusthemess.com or www.thelucasproject.org

Favorite Quotes

“You have a choice. You can wallow in the despair and in the muck or you can rise up and start taking one step after another and move toward something in your life.” - Jess Ronne

Related Links

https://www.jessplusthemess.com 

https://www.thelucasproject.org 

Instagram

Facebook

www.caregiverdoc.com

www.coffeewithcaregivers.com 

What a challenge it can be in today's world for fathers to step up to the plate in the face of a diagnosis. Today, we wanted to share a conversation Becky had recently with three dads who have done just that. They have walked through the challenges that come with raising a child with special needs and learned lessons along the way. We hope their conversation will be an encouragement to you as a special needs dad to do the hard things and lead your family well, even in the face of a challenging situation.

About the Dads- 

• Lee Peoples is a pastor in Texas and you may know him as the husband of Sandra Peoples. He is a dad to two sons, one who has autism.

Resource for Dads

Common Man, Extraordinary Call - a book written by Jeff Davidson with Becky Davidson that challenges, equips, and inspires fathers of children with special needs.