Coffee With Caregivers

Crystal Polk is a mental health therapist and Licensed Independent Social Worker in South Carolina, specializing in supporting parents of children with disabilities and medical needs through her practice, Better Tomorrow Therapy. Featured in the film "Unseen," Crystal's impactful work has gained recognition. While she may describe herself as a "nervous interviewee," Crystal thrives in her role on the other side of the chair as a therapist, where her passion for providing crucial support shines through. Her dedication to making a meaningful impact on mental health, sharing expertise, and contributing to the well-being of families facing unique circumstances is evident in her love for being a therapist. Beyond her clinical practice, Crystal actively contributes to professional development by conducting training sessions at institutions like the Medical University of South Carolina (MUSC) and the National Association of Social Workers (NASW), underscoring her commitment to knowledge-sharing in the mental health community. To stay connected with Jess, head to www.jessplusthemess.com. If you are interested in being a guest please reach out to info@thelucasproject.org. We'd love to hear what you think, so please rate and review! This episode is sponsored by True North Disability Planning, to make disability planning accessible to all. To find out more, visit www.truenorthdisabilityplanning.com.

Debbie, at 50, woke up to the realization that life was too short to be spent prioritizing others over herself. She ditched "I can't" for "Maybe I can," shedding her victim mentality and refusing to let struggles define her. Recently widowed, she's more determined than ever to share her message. Her debut memoir, "On Second Thought... Maybe I Can," earned praise from Jack Canfield, co-author of The Chicken Soup of the Soul® series. Through her memoir and engaging talks, Debbie courageously bares her soul, reminding others they're not alone. Life is tough, but she's proof that dreams are worth pursuing. You can follow Debbie at: Tiktok: https://www.tiktok.com/@debbierweiss Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/debbie.r.weiss/ Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/maybeican Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/debbierweissauthor Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/ca/podcast/maybe-i-can-with-debbie-weiss/id1676123222 Website: www.debbierweiss.com Email: debbie@debbierweiss.com To stay connected with Jess, head to www.jessplusthemess.com. If you are interested in being a guest please reach out to info@thelucasproject.org. We'd love to hear what you think, so please rate and review! This episode is sponsored by True North Disability Planning, to make disability planning accessible to all. To find out more, visit www.truenorthdisabilityplanning.com.

Jessica Patay is the founder and executive director of We Are Brave Together (WABT), a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization that supports caregiving moms with children of all types of disabilities and neuro-diverse diagnoses. In addition, she is a sought-out speaker, podcast guest, writer and retreat coordinator, fundraiser, mother of three, social influencer, and a champion of self-care practices and their positive effect on motherhood. She is a contributing author to the forthcoming title, Becoming Brave Together: Heroic and Extraordinary Caregiving Stories from Mothers Hidden in Plain Sight. The book is set to release on May 1, 2024. Jessica excels at creating and supporting communities of caregiving moms and she is a visionary for the disability community world-wide. Jessica's mission to combat the isolation and burnout that these moms and their families face by creating supportive, resourceful and empowering communities and meaningful connections. Her vision is that every family in the disability community is strengthened, equipped, and inspired for their unique journey. This vision has fueled WABT's growth in 6 years into an international community of over 2200 moms, representing all 50 states and 24 countries. Jessica has helped launch dozens of support groups throughout the U.S., New Zealand, and Australia. In order to extend her outreach, Jessica hosts a podcast, "Brave Together with Jessica Patay," which offers a library of inspirational stories and resources for the disability community. To stay connected with Jess, head to www.jessplusthemess.com. If you are interested in being a guest please reach out to info@thelucasproject.org. We'd love to hear what you think, so please rate and review! This episode is sponsored by True North Disability Planning, to make disability planning accessible to all. To find out more, visit www.truenorthdisabilityplanning.com.

Robert Freiri has been the Executive Director of Gateway Center of Monterey County since February 2020. Robert has been a nonprofit Executive Director for 25 years including seven years as a Habitat for Humanity Executive Director and a Nonprofit Manager for 35 years. He has also been a Non-Public School Principal. He has been involved in many community boards and committees including the Nonprofit Alliance of Monterey County (NAMC), Monterey Peninsula Chamber of Commerce, Loma Prieta Community Foundation, Loma Prieta School Oversight Committee, and the Role Model Program. Robert was a member of Leadership Monterey County Class of 2022 and Leadership San Benito County Class of 2010. Robert is currently a member of the Monterey Rotary and was the Hollister Rotary Club President in 2014. Robert has also served in other Rotary capacities: Foundation Chair, Community Service Chair, World Service Chair and Scholarship Committee. “The Rotary motto, 'Service Above Self,’ is not just a motto for me, it’s a way of life.” His wife of 34 years, Bridget works for the Loma Prieta School District, daughter Christiana, who has severe Dyslexia and struggled with school until high school is an Assistant Principal in charge of Special Education at a Charter School in Walnut Creek, and his son Nicholas, who has Dyspraxia, was told by a Doctor at the age of eight, not to play sports, not only was he on Championship teams in baseball and football, he does Sports Analytics for the University of California Berkeley Athletics Department. To stay connected with Jess, head to www.jessplusthemess.com. If you are interested in being a guest please reach out to info@thelucasproject.org. We'd love to hear what you think, so please rate and review! This episode is sponsored by True North Disability Planning, to make disability planning accessible to all. To find out more, visit www.truenorthdisabilityplanning.com.

Brandi Hurtubise is a full-time caregiver to her daughter Samantha who was born in 2016 with Congenital Cytomeglovirus. As a result Samantha has spastic quad cerebral palsy, epilepsy, hearing loss, cortical vision impairment and microcephaly. She is non-mobile, non-verbal, and receives the majority of her schooling and services in their home in Buffalo, NY. Brandi is also a Mom to Sam's older and neurotypical brother MJ. Congenital Cytomeglovirus (CMV) is the most common viral infection infants in the US are born with and unfortunately there is very little awareness despite how devastating outcomes can be. CMV during pregnancy can be avoided by not sharing food and drinks with toddlers, avoiding kissing toddlers on the mouth, and washing your hands after every diaper change. Prior to Sam's birth in 2016, she worked full -time in insurance. She left the workforce after Sam had a G-Tube placed in 2018. Over the last few years, she has worked with the National CMV Foundation; fundraising and raising awareness for CMV. She also recently started to work with a wonderful group of individuals in Western NY to open up a non-profit organization that provides adapted bikes to individuals with disabilities ( Trendy Trikes / AMBUCS of WNY). To stay connected with Jess, head to www.jessplusthemess.com. If you are interested in being a guest please reach out to info@thelucasproject.org. We'd love to hear what you think, so please rate and review! This episode is sponsored by True North Disability Planning, to make disability planning accessible to all. To find out more, visit www.truenorthdisabilityplanning.com.

Eric Jorgensen is the Founder of True North Disability Planning, a national consulting company helping families, individuals and professionals navigate the maze of disability benefits, resources, and services. He has been helping his clients find answers since his retirement from the Navy in 2012. He was widowed the same year he retired. At the time, his 12 y/o autistic son, William, was completely dependent on his wife for everything. His frustration with the difficulty of figuring out what to do and navigating services for his son led him to start Special Needs Navigator. Eric created a new category, Disability Planning. He specializes in helping clients identify what they do not know and providing clarity by connecting the dots. He works with people and companies around the country, developing individualized solutions best suited to their circumstances. In addition to working with clients one on one; True North Disability Planning has a Substack (Waypoints), YouTube channel, and Podcast (ABCs of Disability Planning). Eric uses Waypoints as a way to share his thoughts as a parent and a professional. The podcast and YouTube channel focus on benefits, resources, and services people may not know of or want to learn more about, or Eric thinks he can give additional perspective. You can follow Eric on social media at: Facebook: @SpecialNeedsNavigator Twitter: @NeedsNavigator YouTube: Special Needs Navigator Podcast: “ABC’s of Disability Planning” To stay connected with Jess, head to www.jessplusthemess.com. If you are interested in being a guest please reach out to info@thelucasproject.org. We'd love to hear what you think, so please rate and review! This episode is sponsored by Meerkat Village. It takes a village to raise a child with special needs. Find out more at www.meerkatvillage.com.

Eric is a proud father to five daughters one of which has profound special needs. He is multi-passionate and involved in IV Vitamin infusions in Las Vegas while building a network marketing business in the health and well-being space. He is also the host of the “I Am Awesome” podcast. He finds joy in physical fitness, nutrition, outdoor activities, sports, biohacking, and getting to the root cause of disease. A follower of Christ, his faith underpins his purpose and he aspires to be a speaker and author. Eric and his beautiful bride, Michelle, will be celebrating their 27th year of marriage in the winter of 2023. Their story is a testament to enduring love and resilience. To stay connected with Jess, head to www.jessplusthemess.com. If you are interested in being a guest please reach out to info@thelucasproject.org. We'd love to hear what you think, so please rate and review! This episode is sponsored by Meerkat Village. It takes a village to raise a child with special needs. Find out more at www.meerkatvillage.com

Lyn is the wife to Brett (psychologist at Pine Rest), mom to Adelyn (and Stephen) and Kylee, and Nana to Sammy. She received her bachelor's degree in Elementary Education from Calvin University and her Master's (and 3/4 of an Education Specialist) degree from Michigan State University, but is a loyal "Go Blue" University of Michigan fan. She currently serves as the Director of Family Ministries and Grand Haven's Covenant Life Church and as the Executive Director of Noorthoek Academy. Kylee has allowed her to experience God's grace and unconditional love in dynamic ways. Kylee was diagnosed with cerebellar hypoplasia at 3 1/2 years and May Thurner Condition (bleeding disorder) while in high school. To stay connected with Jess, head to www.jessplusthemess.com. If you are interested in being a guest please reach out to info@thelucasproject.org. We'd love to hear what you think, so please rate and review! This episode is sponsored by Meerkat Village. It takes a village to raise a child with special needs. Find out more at www.meerkatvillage.com

Kelli Stuart is a wife, mother of five, actress and filmmaker, an award-winning novelist and, most recently, a breast cancer survivor. Kelli and her husband, Lee, were thrust into their roles as caregivers when they adopted their youngest son, Sawyer, from China in 2018. Sawyer is a complex little boy with a laundry list of special needs. He also possesses the most magical smile this side of heaven. Kelli juggles the many needs under her roof alongside her own deep-rooted desire to create and craft stories. She doesn't always juggle well, but she does the best she can. You can find Kelli chronicling the daily ups and downs of life on her Instagram feed @kellistuartauthor. To stay connected with Jess, head to www.jessplusthemess.com. If you are interested in being a guest please reach out to info@thelucasproject.org. We'd love to hear what you think, so please rate and review! This episode is sponsored by Meerkat Village. It takes a village to raise a child with special needs. Find out more at www.meerkatvillage.com

Dr. Crystal G. Morrison is a highly regarded executive advisor, strategist, leader, scientist, and tech entrepreneur. While progressing in her career as a scientist, Dr. Morrison was also growing her family. She has three amazing teenagers. One of her children is autistic and has additional mental health diagnoses and two of her children were adopted and experienced extreme poverty and trauma early in their lives. As a mom, she’s spent almost 20 years navigating the complex system of care and advocating for her children. It’s been frustrating and overwhelming, and millions of parents and caregivers face the same feelings and challenges daily. Her experience inspired her to co-found and lead Meerkat Village, a software company dedicated to improving outcomes for children with special needs by building collaboration and communication among adults providing care. On her journey, she’s met countless people working at the intersection of community, education, health care and mental health. She created the Village Vision podcast to celebrate their stories and ignite action. To stay connected with Jess, head to www.jessplusthemess.com. If you are interested in being a guest please reach out to info@thelucasproject.org. We'd love to hear what you think, so please rate and review! This episode is sponsored by www.CapeAble.com. Weighted blankets. Weighted Wearables and Sensory Products. Use code CARE15 at checkout to try out one of these amazing products at 15% off.

Michelle Crawford is a single mom of two children living in Oklahoma. Her daughter was vaccine injured at four months old and now has seizures and significant developmental delays. In 2021 her world turned upside down when her estranged husband unexpectedly announced that he had shut down the business leaving her unemployed and with no where to turn for help. Since then, she has struggled to support her family while also being a full time caregiver to her 24 year old daughter. She says that she has been living in survival mode for the past two years struggling with feelings of loneliness and feeling trapped due to the lack of support she receives. Her dream is to one day create a funded home for single moms and their special needs child(ren) to live, build community, and where in-house care is made available through a combination of parent co-ops and quality caregivers. To stay connected with Jess, head to www.jessplusthemess.com. If you are interested in being a guest please reach out to hello@thelucasproject.org. I'd love to hear what you think, so please rate and review! This episode is sponsored by www.CapeAble.com. Weighted blankets. Weighted Wearables and Sensory Products. Use code CARE15 at checkout to try out one of these amazing products at 15% off.

"how good it is when I can stop clinging to the illusion of control and just living and being present in today." What a fun, informative episode with Crystal Paine (www.moneysavingmom.com) who is a New York Times bestselling author, a popular speaker, the host of The Crystal Paine Show, and the founder of one of the top personal finance blogs on the web, MoneySavingMom.com. Her desire is to help women across the globe live with more joy in their everyday lives. Her biggest passions are helping women understand how the Gospel can radically transform their lives, raising awareness for foster care, and finding great deals at the grocery store. She lives with her husband and six kids in the Nashville, Tennessee area. We chatted about how she unexpectedly found herself as a mom to a child with disabilities when her foster care journey turned into an adoption. She also shared about how this transition was difficult for some of her older children in the beginning but with time, they have become their newest brother's biggest advocate! She also gave overwhelmed caregivers lots of time saving tips from her latest book The Time Saving Mom. To learn more, check out the links below. Crystal PaineOwner/Blogger | Money Saving Mom, LLCMoneySavingMom.com | CrystalPaine.com | YourBloggingMentor.com To stay connected with Jess, head to www.jessplusthemess.com. If you are interested in being a guest please reach out to hello@thelucasproject.org. I'd love to hear what you think, so please rate and review! This episode is sponsored by www.CapeAble.com. Weighted blankets. Weighted Wearables and Sensory Products. Use code CARE15 at checkout to try out one of these amazing products at 15% off.

"Nobody's going to fix this but you" I said to myself. Kristian Pattison is an Arizona Mama who has two wonderful daughters, Alaina and Sasha. Alaina was around 6 months old when Kristin noticed that she was not making eye contact like the other babies were. This eventually led to an autism diagnosis, a long journey to "recover autism" and an eventual peace about the life that Alaina would lead. We also chat about the staffing crisis and how difficult it is to find competent long term care for our children and the concepts of soothing versus self care and which is actually helping us as caregivers. Kristin is also the author of "Bringing You Back" and "Deliver us." I know you're going to love this episode! To stay connected with Jess, head to www.jessplusthemess.com. If you are interested in being a guest please reach out to hello@thelucasproject.org. I'd love to hear what you think, so please rate and review!

He said, "You don't have to be a hero... you don't have to save the baby's life." Jillian Benfield is a former journalist and news anchor. She holds a broadcast journalism degree from the University of Georgia. As a freelance writer, her essays about living an unexpected life have appeared on sites such as TODAY, Good Morning America, Yahoo! News, and ABC News. Jillian regularly advocates for the full inclusion of people with disabilities in her writings, in her community, and as a part of the National Down Syndrome Congress’s National Down Syndrome Advocacy Coalition. Jillian and her husband, Andy, and their three children make their home on Florida’s Space Coast. Learn more atjillianbenfield.com. To stay connected with Jess, head to www.jessplusthemess.com. If you are interested in being a guest please reach out to hello@thelucasproject.org. I'd love to hear what you think, so please rate and review!

"Sleep deprivation is one of the hardest things to endure as a parent caregiver." Tonya Andrews. Tonya Andrews is a mom to 3 boys and her youngest is on the spectrum. She has been married for 12 years and lives in Ankeny Iowa and is the President of an autism non profit called L-Evated Coaching and Learning Services. To stay connected with Jess, head to www.jessplusthemess.com. If you are interested in being a guest please reach out to hello@thelucasproject.org. I'd love to hear what you think, so please rate and review!

Kassondra Lambert is a parent of a disabled 4 year old. Last year, she started a fundraising journey to fund a wheelchair accessible van. Through that experience, she saw the need to teach families how to fundraise online for medical expenses not covered by insurance. She's the founder of The Striped Stable which teaches copywriting and more to parents so that they can tell their stories in a way that connects with donors and helps them create community. www.thestripedstable.com To stay connected with Jess, head to www.jessplusthemess.com. If you are interested in being a guest please reach out to hello@thelucasproject.org. I'd love to hear what you think, so please rate and review!

"My Mom said, 'you're not educating, you're babysitting'" Ron Sandison works full time in the medical field and is a professor of theology at Destiny School of Ministry. He is an advisory board member of the Art of Autism and the Els Center of Excellence. Sandison has a Master of Divinity from Oral Roberts University and is the author of A Parent’s Guide to Autism: Practical Advice. Biblical Wisdom published by Charisma House and Views from the Spectrum. He has memorized over 15,000 Scriptures including 22 complete books of the New Testament. Sandison speaks at over 70 events a year including 20 plus education conferences. Ron and his wife, Kristen, reside in Rochester Hills, MI, with daughter, Makayla. His website is http://www.spectruminclusion.com. You can contact him at sandison456@hotmail.com. Link to Ron’s website: https://www.spectruminclusion.com Link to Ron’s Facebook fan Page: https://www.facebook.com/SpectrumRonSandison To stay connected with Jess, head to www.jessplusthemess.com. If you are interested in being a guest please reach out to hello@thelucasproject.org. I'd love to hear what you think, so please rate and review!

"Don't panic (about the future). Get a will, get a special needs trust and have faith that it will work out." Dr. Mary Barbera “fell” into the autism world in 1999 when her first-born son, Lucas was diagnosed with autism. Since then, Mary transformed from a confused and overwhelmed parent to a Board-Certified Behavior Analyst and best-selling author. After earning a PhD, Mary launched her first online course in early 2015 and later built additional courses and a membership program to help both parents and autism professionals. Mary’s latest book Turn Autism Around, her online courses, weekly podcast and social media posts help parents and professionals start turning things around for young children with early signs of autism and older children with an autism diagnosis who are still struggling with talking, tantrums, eating, sleeping and potty training. For more information go to marybarbera.com. Attend a free workshop to learn more: marybarbera.com/workshop And on all social media channels: https://MaryBarbera.com/Facebook https://MaryBarbera.com/Youtube https://MaryBarbera.com/Instagram https://MaryBarbera.com/TikTok To stay connected with Jess, head to www.jessplusthemess.com. If you are interested in being a guest please reach out to jess@thelucasproject.org. I'd love to hear what you think, so please rate and review!

"You have to find ways to get laughter into your day because life is heavy." Amy McCoy is an autism parent, children’s author and disability educator. Her debut children’s novel, Little Big Sister, shares the sibling perspective of growing up with a brother who has autism. Amy combines her expertise as a former elementary school teacher with her experience of parenting a child with autism as she visits elementary schools, libraries, bookstores, and parenting groups offering interactive presentations highlighting disability awareness. Amy’s children, Matthew and Kathryn, are the inspiration for her books and her work. Learn more at www.littlebigsisterbook.com. To stay connected with Jess, head to www.jessplusthemess.com. If you are interested in being a guest please reach out at jess@thelucasproject.org. I'd love to hear what you think, so please rate and review!

“I was moving up the corporate ladder and making an impact as a black female in tech. I am transparent with my employers and they know that I am a caregiver. It’s a double-edged sword because although they know I’m a caregiver, employers do not fully understand the magnitude of what that comes with. I became a single mother as well shortly after learning about my twin's diagnosis. Although I had many accolades in my career, I was at a fork in the road. My last job tried its best to support me as a caregiver, but after almost losing my home from taking unpaid FMLA twice, exhausting all of my savings while paying for deductibles for my daughter's care and losing our in-home nursing care, I put my pride aside and left my 6-figure IT job” Melanie Oates is a nonprofit founder, speaker, and advocate for parent caregivers like herself. She grew up extremely fascinated with technology and earned a Bachelor's Degree in Computer Science from Bethune-Cookman University. Melanie has shattered the glass ceiling with over 15 years of experience in the tech space, and has broken many barriers at billion dollar companies as a black female in tech. Despite her accomplishments in the corporate sector, she made the life-changing decision to end her career to focus on her family. While this decision did not come easily, she knew it was best because as an attempted suicide survivor, she knew she could not risk another mental health crisis. From sleepless nights to working on her computer behind the wheel while traveling to appointments, Melanie took the leap of faith in 2020 and has not looked back. To stay connected with Jess, head to www.jessplusthemess.com. If you are interested in being a guest please reach out at jess@thelucasproject.org. I'd love to hear what you think, so please rate and review!