A group of local parents caring for children with special needs recently started a support group and plan to meet regularly in order to share their experiences and advice among one another.

Nurture Network is an idea from the minds of Kayla Boyer, Jessica Kelly and Kim Cocos, three mothers in the community who have experienced firsthand the challenges that can arise when raising a child facing serious illness or a developmental disorder.

The Republic-Times has previously covered Boyer’s daughter Lydia and her past battle with cancer as well as Kelly’s son Amari and the issues he’s faced with DiGeorge syndrome.

Boyer spoke briefly about her experiences as a parent after her daughter was diagnosed with brain cancer in 2016 and received treatment through the following six years, suffering various complications in that time.

She described the strain that parents in her situation can feel. With plentiful trips to the hospital and generally caring for a sick child, it’s easy to get worn out.

“It’s not, like, burdensome, but it’s an exhausting road,” Boyer said. “Therapies and doctor’s appointments and tests, all the different types of psychological testing and neurological testing, all those things and all the different therapy… It’s overwhelming, a little bit, and at the same time you kind of feel alone.”

Boyer added that, while she experienced that sense of isolation, she also noticed there was no shortage of other children and parents experiencing a similar journey.

Despite this, the community has lacked a support group where these families can come together and talk through their struggles. 

Boyer recognized the need for such a group, as did Kelly and Cocos.

“We all kind of had this same idea around the same time which was about a month ago,” Boyer said. “They had started a Facebook group… They added me, and I messaged Jessica and I was like ‘Hey, I was thinking about a support group for parents of kids with special needs…’ She was like ‘Oh my gosh, I was thinking the exact same thing.’”

The three met up and began talking about the future of Nurture Network, which ultimately led to a BBQ gathering this past Sunday afternoon at William Zimmer Memorial Park in Waterloo to celebrate the start of the group.

The idea for Nurture Network, as Boyer described, is to serve as a support group where parents of children with special needs can come together and get to know each other each month, discussing their experiences and offering advice to one another when they can.

“We just wanted to get this community together, get to know each other,” Boyer said. “We’re gonna start out with monthly meetings and just talk about our journeys. Each and every person has a different journey, but at the same time there’s always gonna be somebody that kind of has the same journey as you.”

Boyer emphasized that inclusivity is a major component of the group, with any diagnoses welcome including ADHD, autism spectrum disorder, mental health illnesses, physical disabilities, developmental disabilities, intellectual disabilities, genetic disorders and any others.

The group also isn’t exclusive to parents of youth with special needs. Boyer noted that those parents who are caring for their adult special needs children likely have plenty of wisdom to share given their years of experience.

She also mentioned the group is meant to serve as a welcoming environment for the entire family. Getting siblings of special needs children involved is a big focus as they often face PTSD, depression and anxiety and could similarly benefit from a support network.

Boyer also mentioned that this group will have on-site childcare at each meeting with a nurse or paraprofessional present to help watch over the children.

Demand for the group would seem to be high given the turnout at Sunday’s event, with families gathering under the Zimmer Park pavilion to enjoy food, music and other entertainment.

“This support group is something we know is going to thrive because there’s such a need for it,” Boyer said. “I had so many parents come up to me with tears in their eyes like ‘We needed this.’ It was just a calling.”

Boyer expressed her appreciation for those in the community who helped the BBQ come together, from Schneider’s Quality Meats providing hotdogs to balloon artists and clowns from Shriners Children’s St. Louis turning up on late notice to entertain the kids.

She likewise expressed appreciation for the wider community’s efforts toward making her and other families feel welcome. She noted the wheelchair swing at Zimmer Park and the many businesses in the area which have pushed to make their storefronts wheelchair accessible.

She had similarly kind things to say for the many times the community has rallied behind needy children, recalling the love that was shown for Lydia as she fought cancer.

“We’re just so grateful for this community,” Boyer said. “They’ve helped us out so much, even when Lydia was first diagnosed with cancer and all the fundraisers that they did for our family. The whole community in general is just wonderful. It’s great to live here… Everybody feels really included in Waterloo and surrounding areas.”

Kelly also spoke briefly about her experiences and why she feels Nurture Network is needed in the community.

She echoed much of Boyer’s sentiments, noting all the doctor visits, therapists, insurance trouble and time spent in the hospital, adding she has long wished to find more support and resources.

“Parents are thrown into this, and it’s scary and frustrating and isolating,” Kelly said. “It feels so good to be surrounded by people who just get it. Our kids are free to be themselves, we are free to break down and break through. We are so excited for the connections and healing that can come from Nurture Net. We want somewhere for parents to turn to when they get their scary diagnosis.”

Nurture Network will met the third Wednesday of every month from 6-8 p.m. at Hope Christian Church, 9273 Coach Stop Road, Columbia.

For more information, join the “Nurture Net” Facebook page.