Jessica Ronne’s journey as a caregiver began on a day that could have shattered her world.
In 2004, during a routine ultrasound appointment for her second child, doctors informed her that her unborn son had experienced a stroke in utero. They offered no hope, suggesting she terminate the pregnancy and “try again.” But Ronne and her husband refused.
She recalled, “We put our baby in the Lord’s hands and just had faith that God’s will would be done.”
When Lucas was born on Aug. 12, 2004, “screaming with life,” Ronne became what she termed “a forever caregiver.” Lucas’ profound disabilities would require lifelong care. But at the time, she was simply grateful for her miracle baby.
Today, Ronne is an advocate for parent caregivers, a demographic she said remains largely invisible to society. As the founder and executive director of The Lucas Project, she works to provide recognition, resources and respite for families like hers.
According to Ronne, the Church has a pivotal role in addressing these needs, but many congregations shy away due to fear of the unknown.
She said, “I often even speak with pastors at churches, and they’re like, ‘We don’t have these families in our community.’ And I’ll say, ‘Yes, you do, you just don’t see them.’“
She urges congregations to step out of their comfort zones: saying, “This is exactly the kind of work Jesus did — stepping into messy, uncomfortable spaces.”