Today we’d like to introduce you to Jessica Ronne.
Hi Jessica, we’re thrilled to have a chance to learn your story today. So, before we get into specifics, maybe you can briefly walk us through how you got to where you are today.
In 2004 I went to what I thought was a routine ultrasound appointment for my second child, and it was there that I learned that the baby had experienced a stroke in utero. My husband and I decided to continue that pregnancy, and Lucas was born on August 12, 2004. Three years later, my husband began to experience numerous health problems. He was diagnosed with a brain tumor in 2007. He fought cancer for three years and passed away on August 24, 2010. I was a young 33-year-old widow with four children under 7, including one with profound disabilities. A few months later, I connected online with a young widower with 3 children. We fell in love and were married in 2011. We adopted each other’s children and had an 8th and final child together in 2015. My experiences as a blended family and as a mom to a profoundly disabled son have led to three books, a documentary (Unseen, How We’re Failing Parent Caregivers and Why it Matters), a non-profit (The Lucas Project – www.thelucasproject.org), a podcast (Coffee with Caregivers) and a residential endeavor called Hope Farm.
We all face challenges, but looking back, would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
No! I call myself a reluctant caregiver, but here I am in this role that the Almighty tagged me for. I was a caregiver to a dying husband, a caregiver to 8 children, and I’ll be a caregiver to a profoundly disabled child for the rest of his and my life. Patience has never been my strong suite, but the Lord has been faithful to provide through every struggle.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know?
The Lucas Project was a dream that began with Lucas, who was miraculously born on August 12 2004 after he suffered a stroke in utero.
After surviving brain surgery at 3 days old, he has continued to thrive and grow, although his life with profound special needs has been challenging at times.
My desire was to start a non-profit in Lucas’s honor, but i lacked direction and focus for what this would involve or how it would look.
In 2013, we moved to rural Tennessee to pursue a dream of a simple life.
While Lucas thrived in many aspects, my husband and I noticed a lack of resources and accessibility in other areas – particularly in the area of respite opportunities for caregivers.
The Lucas Project was born out of a desire to bridge this gap by offering awareness to the general public in regard to the difficulties and challenges that caregivers face and respite to the caregivers.
Have you learned any interesting or important lessons due to the Covid-19 Crisis?
Yes, to pivot. We were no longer able to offer in-person respite and instead began offering care packages – respite in a box, which has oddly become our signature program!
Contact Info:
- Website: www.jessplusthemess.com
- Instagram: www.instagram.com/jessplusthemess
- Facebook: www.facebook.com/jessplusthemess
- Other: www.thelucasproject.org
