Imagine a world where you were the one who was different from everyone else. A world where there was no “blending in with the crowd.” A world that is cruel. A world that is mean. A world where it is a daily challenge just to survive. A daily challenge just to live. A challenge to persevere. A world that say “you can’t.”

That is the world my guest has lived through for more then forty years. Dorsey Ross was a surprise when his parents were shocked to learn they were expecting. Well into their forties, they figured they were way past child bearing age, with two grown daughters already to their credit.

Then, once Dorsey was born, it was apparent that his was no ordinary birth. At birth, he was diagnosed with Apert Syndrome. This is a genetic disorder that causes abnormal shaping of the skull and face where the bones fuse together too early in fetal development.

The doctors recommended his parents put him into an institution and did not give him a very good prognosis for survival.

But, his parents were believers and trusted God could do anything. They would do what they could to help him, not only survive, but thrive in life. They never held him back from anything he wanted to achieve. In the process, they – and Dorsey himself – discovered there were very few things he could not do. Praise God!

But, life was not a bed of roses. There was bullying at school. Being called a monster; a freak, teasing. Not to mention numerous operations.

Dorsey has a motto that “can’t is not in his vocabulary.” For most of his life, he has never used the word “can’t.” He believes that, with God, “All things are possible to him who believes” and that he can “do all things through Christ who gives him strength.” Amen!

Dorsey is now a minister of the Gospel, an author and a PODCASTER – called, The Dorsey Ross Show! Praise God!

Dorsey has published a book detailing his life that is titled, appropriately, “Overcomer: Discovering God’s Plan Against All Odds.”

Dorsey, other than that brief introduction I just gave, can you tell us in your own words, “Who is Dorsey Ross?”

Although I know you don’t personally remember, but you probably have had the conversation with your parents about this… When did they first learn you were going to have “Apert Syndrome?”

I believe I read that you had 68 surgeries growing up?

How did this affect your childhood development?

What about friends?  Especially in school?

Let’s talk about school. What was that like and how difficult was it when you had to confront this type of bias on a daily basis?

In your book, you discuss the bullying.  How difficult was this for you during that time?

Certainly, there were times when you considered ending your life. What were those dark days like and how did the Lord lead you out of that kind of despair?

When did you realize you were being called into ministry?

But, you succeeded in graduating from high school and wanted to pursue college. But people, I guess you could say, “well intentioned people” were trying to dissuade you from attempting college, right?

Tell us what college life was like. Did the teasing, etc. continue, even in college?

How about the studies? Did you have difficulty with the actual classes?

You not only graduated from the community college, you continued on with your Bachelor program, too, right?

Now, you give talks, visit churches, do some public speaking. I’m sure your theme centers around something like “Look what the Lord can do!” type of talk, right?

Do you speak on bullying in any of schools?

Dorsey, I know your first edition of “Overcomer” was published several years ago. But you’ve recently updated it. Why did you write this book, “Overcomer?”

Why did you feel the need to update...