Andrea Duerkop: Finding Joy in the Hard

About Andrea

Andrea is a follower of Jesus, wife of Shawn, and mom of two boys; Sam (who has Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy) and Zach. As a younger adult, she obtained her Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering, but left the workforce to homeschool her kids 15 years ago. Her family plays a small part in the special needs ministry 'Joni and Friends' via volunteering for their Wheels for the World program and enjoying their annual family camps. She's blessed to be mentor and friend to newer homeschool moms and to younger moms who are navigating the joys and the hard messiness of this special needs life.

About the Episode

In this conversation, Andrea Duerkop shares her journey as a special needs parent, discussing the challenges and triumphs of raising her son Sam, who has Duchenne muscular dystrophy. She reflects on the emotional journey of receiving the diagnosis, the importance of community support, and the lessons learned through faith and resilience. Andrea emphasizes the significance of sibling dynamics, the feeling of being loved and chosen, and the impact of giving back through service. The conversation highlights the importance of finding joy amidst challenges and the power of community in navigating the complexities of special needs parenting.

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