At Family Retreat Special Needs Families Move from Hopelessness to Joy

By Joni and Friends|Published On: March 11, 2024|Categories: Family Retreats|

Like so many other married couples, Bryan and Cheryl wanted to start a family. While doctors told them that their chances of having children together were slim, they held out hope. Two years after they got married, God blessed them with their first daughter, Sophia.

“Ten minutes after Sophia was born, we learned she has Trisomy 21, better known as Down syndrome,” says Bryan.

Entering the World of Disability

For Bryan and Cheryl, Sophia’s birth changed their lives more than they could have imagined. On top of becoming first-time parents, they found themselves facing the realities of living with disability. They remember feeling unprepared for the news of Sophia’s diagnosis, and all that came with it…

“Throughout that first day, doctors gave us confirmation after confirmation of Sophia’s Down syndrome. Later that evening, a cardiologist confirmed Sophia also had an AV canal heart defect,” says Cheryl.

Facing Fear and Isolation

After Sophia’s diagnosis, Bryan and Cheryl faced their new world of disability alone and afraid.

“We had no experience with special needs or Down syndrome,” they said.

At Joni and Friends, we understand the isolation, fear, and uncertainty Bryan and Cheryl felt as they learned to live with disability. That’s why our Family Retreat program exists!

At Family Retreat, special needs families often move from hopelessness to joy as they receive respite care and spiritual refreshment. They also discover true belonging.

Finding New Hope

Bryan and Cheryl will never forget their first Family Retreat where they found deep encouragement and strengthened their faith in Christ. They came with both of their daughters, Sophia and her younger sister, Sonya, who does not have a disability. Within the Joni and Friends community, every member of the family has found a place of blessing and belonging.

“The staff and families at Family Retreat have become our closest friends,” says Cheryl.

Family Retreat was just the beginning for Bryan and Cheryl deepening their faith and hope in Jesus. Meeting with other couples in similar life circumstances has encouraged Bryan and Cheryl and strengthened their marriage.

Lasting Transformation

Over the years, Bryan, Cheryl, and their family have become an integral part of the Joni and Friends community. In fact, Sophia met her best friend at Family Retreat. They live in the same area, share a similar diagnosis, and now attend the same church.

Sonya, who was served by our Family Retreat sibling ministry as a child, has now served at two Family Retreats as a buddy to a disabled child. She has also made life-long friends who have helped her grow in her walk with Jesus. She loves to mentor others because of what she’s experienced through Family Retreat.

Bryan and Cheryl also have long-term support from the Joni and Friends community.

“We joined the Care Group for Couples, meeting twice a month with other couples who are raising children who live with disability.”

Together, Bryan, Cheryl, Sophia, and Sonya now spread the word about Joni and Friends, inviting other families living with disability to experience the Gospel through this life-giving community.

“We continue to spread the word about Joni and Friends, inviting new families to Family Retreat each year. This incredible group has been such a blessing to our family.”

You can make it possible for more families like Bryan and Cheryl’s to experience new hope in Christ through Joni and Friends!