Series: Medical

“Advocacy and Fundraising for Medical Families” with Abby Zachritz

Today is our final episode in our medical family series, and it’s a good one. Abby Zachritz is an advocate, corporate consultant, speaker, and a mother of five including a son with disability. Known as 'Advocacy Abby,' she provides essential support and resources to families facing life-altering situations. As Co-Founder of the Connect Platform, Abby empowers families by connecting them with over 1,000 grants, equipment, therapy, and financial support options across the U.S., Canada, and internationally. Through Connect, she ensures that no family has to face challenges alone, making vital resources accessible.

You’re going want to grab a pen and paper for this insightful and informational episode. So let’s get started.

Bio

Advocacy Abby, also known as Abby Zachritz, is a mother of five, advocate, and guiding voice for families navigating disability and complex medical challenges. Known as 'Advocacy Abby,' she provides essential support and resources to families facing life-altering situations, sharing guidance, tools, and emotional support during their most critical moments. Her approach is both deeply personal and professional, rooted in her own experience as a mother and advocate for her child with a disability. As Co-Founder of Connect Platform, Abby empowers families by connecting them with over 1,000 grants, equipment, therapy, and financial support options across the U.S., Canada, and internationally. Through Connect, she ensures that no family has to face challenges alone, making vital resources accessible. In addition to her work with families, Abby consults corporations on how to better serve their clients with unique needs and perspectives. She’s also an inspirational speaker, sharing her message of hope and resilience with audiences, showing that strength and connection can make a profound difference in the lives of individuals and families.

https://www.advocacyabby.com

instagram.com/advocacy.abby

Connect Platform

Series: Medical

“Finding Hope in the Midst of Medical Complexity” with Andrea Bourne Foster

Welcome to the podcast. This episode is full of heart and hope. Today we begin our Medical series with author, speaker, educator and advocate Andrea Bourne Foster. Andrea is the mom of 2 beautiful daughters diagnosed with tuberous sclerosis and epilepsy. She is no stranger to hospital stays and ongoing procedures and we are blessed to have this most amazing mom and advocate on with us today. Let’s listen in as she shares her families story.

Bio:

Andrea Foster is a speaker, writer, disability advocate/educator, wife and mom. Andrea has been married to Kirk since 1998 and they are parents to four young adults. Their youngest, Audrey and Annie are identical twins who were diagnosed with Tuberous Sclerosis Complex at age five months. This resulted in further diagnoses of epilepsy, autism, intellectual disability and other medical complexities. Andrea and Kirk experienced grief at the loss of dreams and face daily challenges as they fulfill the role of parent-caregivers for their twin daughters. They live in Brampton, Ontario, Canada where Kirk is a professional Firefighter and have been part of Bramalea Alliance Church since 2001. Andrea holds a Master of Science in Education (Disability Studies), Bachelor of Theology and Early Childhood Education Diploma. She shares her experiences through speaking and writing. Her articles are published in Testimony Magazine (PAOC), Alliance.ca magazine, ChristianWeek online magazine and in Women Together online magazine. She has also been a guest writer for Key Ministry and guest blogger for the Huffington Post. She has been interviewed on 100 Huntley St., The Drew Marshall Show and by other podcast hosts. Andrea guest lectures at Bible Colleges and Seminaries, and is working to make Disability Studies part of all such curriculums. Andrea longs to help families not only cope, but also thrive and truly know the joy of the Lord, in spite of disability, disappointment and ongoing seasons of trial. She believes all people belong in the Church but understands that not all leaders are well prepared for ministry with people affected by disability. Her passion is to equip everyone for better interaction so the Body of Christ will become a place of belonging for everybody. One of her favourite things is encouraging other families affected by disability to press into Jesus through Bible study, Church connection and Corporate Worship.

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