Coffee With Caregivers Jessica E Ronne

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.