Parenting a special needs child comes with unique challenges, deep joys, and life-changing lessons. In this heartfelt Mama Mentors episode, Julie Adams shares her journey of adopting Lola Ruth, a tiny Bulgarian orphan with Down syndrome, and the realities of parenting a child with complex medical needs. Julie speaks honestly about faith, resilience, community support, and the everyday choices that help special needs families keep going with hope.

Mama Mentors Podcast with Beth Graham

Episode Outline

• 0:00 – Julie’s Adoption Journey Begins
  Julie shares how her longing to become a mother led her toward adoption and eventually to Lola Ruth, a little girl in Bulgaria whose story immediately captured her heart.
• 6:00 – Welcoming Lola Ruth Home
  Julie explains how the adoption process unfolded, how COVID complicated travel, and how she finally brought Lola Ruth home after months of waiting and uncertainty.
• 10:00 – Navigating Complex Medical Needs
  Beth and Julie talk through Lola Ruth’s diagnoses, including Down syndrome, epilepsy, hearing impairment, cortical vision impairment, and feeding challenges.
• 18:00 – Faith, Support, and Everyday Survival
  Julie reflects on the emotional realities of special needs parenting and shares how faith, family, church community, and simple acts of kindness have helped sustain her.
• 28:00 – Seeing Purpose and Sharing Hope
  The conversation closes with Julie’s encouragement for parents and the story behind her children’s book inspired by Lola Ruth and her beloved light, Larry.

Best Quotes from the Podcast

“Every child deserves a cheerleader in their corner, every child, somebody to lift them up, to love them, to guide them.”

– Julie Adams

“Raising a child with special needs has brought me closer to God than I ever have been in 44 years in my life.”

– Julie Adams

“You have a choice whether this day is going to be good or not, good by the way you choose to look at it.”

– Julie Adams

Click play to listen to the full episode