2025 Caregiver ReTreat

Jess Ronne
Founder and CEO of The Lucas Project

Jessica Ronne is an author, speaker, podcast host of Coffee With Caregivers, associate producer of the “UNSEEN” documentary, and caregiver advocate. She is the founder and executive director of The Lucas Project, a nonprofit dedicated to serving parent caregivers with recognition, respite and resources.

Jess and her husband Ryan live in Michigan with their eight children, including their son Lucas who has profound disabilities.

Her story of beauty from ashes is detailed in her memoir, Sunlight Burning at Midnight. To follow the ongoing saga, she can be found at jessplusthemess.com or by reading her most recent books, Blended With Grit & Grace, Lovin’ With Grit & Grace, and Caregiving With Grit & Grace.

Dr. Tabatha Barber

The Gutsy Gynecologist

Dr. Tabatha Barber is a highly sought after physician, speaker, and 2-time best-selling author who has dedicated her life to empowering women in their health journeys. Overcoming early life challenges, including being a teenage mother and high school dropout, she rose to success through faith and perseverance. Dr. Tabatha holds triple board certifications in obstetrics and gynecology, menopause, and functional medicine. Her virtual medical practice offers compassionate care to women across the nation. She is the creator of the Fast to Faith Coaching Certification Program, where faith, health, and business intersect, helping women achieve spiritual and physical transformation. Through her international best-selling book Fast to Faith ,podcast, program, and supplement line, Dr. Tabatha inspires thousands to heal from within by focusing on gut health, hormone balance, and soul nourishment. She is a beacon of light in a sea of medical darkness.

Tracy DeGraaf

Laugh Anyway Mom

Referred to as one of Chicago’s best clean female comedians and speakers, Tracy DeGraaf has made a name for herself with her one-woman comedy show “Life Happens, Laugh Anyway.”

Rebellious Magazine has high praises of DeGraaf’s work.

DeGraaf pulls material from her experiences as a middle-aged woman, wife, mother of five sons and breast cancer survivor. She’s the perfect fit for Girls Night Out, Date Night, Women’s Conferences, Fundraisers, Corporate, Non-profit and Breast Cancer Awareness Events.

DeGraaf is the author of Laugh Anyway Mom and co-host of the weekly podcast, Life Happens Laugh Anyway. She was trained for comedy at The Second City in Chicago. She is happily married to her husband, Ron (a.k.a. Muffin) since 1989 and they live in the Chicago area where they are now empty nesters. She travels nationwide.

Marna Pacheco

Trauma Care

Born and raised in the Pacific Northwest, Marna Pacheco is passionate about her faith, her coffee, her plaid’s, and would play Christmas music and ABBA all-year-long if it were socially acceptable. Despite childhood trauma, undiagnosed ADHD, and losing her first husband in a tragic accident when she was just 21—Marna’s journey is defined by mind-boggling resilience and grit.

As an adoptive mother to a daughter with profound special needs, she feels intensely for caregivers, who are often unseen. She intimately understands the relentless exhaustion, isolation, and judgment that caregivers endure daily.

To help and better understand her daughter, Marna immersed herself in extensive research on attachment theory, polyvagal theory, and neuroscience. In true mother-of-necessity-fashion she invented, patented, and manufactured a line of wearable weighted products to become an accidental but proud female entrepreneur.

Now in a new chapter of life, Marna has an unwavering belief in the intrinsic value of every life and cares deeply about encouraging others, letting them know they are seen and heard, not alone in their journey. She seeks to provide even one drop of hope to every person she encounters.

Marna currently resides in Northern Indiana with her husband and daughter, with an older daughter also living in the area.

Lindsey Criswell

Branch and Stone Studio

Lindsay Criswell is a daughter, a big sister, a wife, a friend, a mother of three young boys, and the owner of Branch and Stone Studio.

Lindsay’s boys inspired her studio and blog. Her oldest shares her love of art and writing. Her middle child can be found with his head in a book and is on the Autism Spectrum. While her youngest child was born medically complex and is diagnosed with Apraxia of Speech, it does not stop him from keeping everyone on their “toes” while talking their “ears off.” He also loves to get messy and creative in the studio.

As a visual artist, instructor, writer, illustrator, advocate, business owner and now a cancer survivor, Lindsay’s mission is to share knowledge, encouragement, and love. Fueled by much faith in God, a hubby she can count on, and ample amounts of coffee. Lindsay balances the time challenges of family and running Branch and Stone Studio, a creative haven, and blog for all ages and abilities where everyone is celebrated.

Lindsay also partners with the local Board of Developmental Disabilities, and many local schools to help bring awareness, support, and art. She currently runs a support group where parents of children with additional needs receive resources and an opportunity to share struggles while their children including siblings get to create art. She has headed numerous large events for caregivers and families with different themes and purposes.

Lindsay released a children’s book she authored and illustrated for young elementary students in 2022. She is currently working on a middle-grade novel. She is thankful for the opportunity to serve her family, friends, community, and readers while doing what she loves. Lindsay hopes to make a larger impact outside of her local community while continuing to help locally.

Leah Lawrence

Artist

Leah K Lawrence resides in the rural midwest and frequently walks in the hayfields with her grandchildren as they visit with the cats, dogs, chickens, cows and miniature donkey, Jenny. Two of her grandchildren have special needs, and their experiences with neurodivergence as well as her own have heightened her desire to make a difference using her gifts.Leah seeks to serve God by developing community art projects for various groups who might otherwise be forgotten by organized religion.

As a self-trained and self-initiated artist, Leah K Lawrence has studied and learned from the painterly masters and has learned numerous art-making techniques. These intense self-studies of the great artists, their works and techniques along with her pioneering and experimental mindset have helped her become accomplished in many mediums and genres. Leah consistently and fearlessly crosses barriers of style, form, and medium in her career as an artist.

Lisa Stonehouse

Spiritual Chaplain

Lisa Stonehouse is a pastor, loving mother of four, and has a passion for caring for people. With a deep faith rooted in care and compassion, she values helping people feel seen, heard and loved. She leads with a heart full of grace, guides with wisdom, empathy, and an unwavering commitment to meeting people where they are.

Her heart for people is at the core of everything she does. Whether it’s offering a listening ear, walking alongside someone, or being present with them, she desires to create an environment where everyone can feel at rest. Her dedication to women, mentorship, and the care of their hearts has made a lasting impact on countless lives, nurturing meaningful connections and providing a space for both spiritual and emotional growth. Through her work, she has touched many hearts and continues to inspire those around her with her unshakable faith and love for others.

Lisa and her four children live in West Michigan. She loves thrift, walk, paint and curl up with a good book, preferably wearing cozy sweats.

Karen Mulki

Care Advocate

Life has been a journey for Karen Mulki of overcoming, healing, and discovering strength through her faith in Jesus Christ. Having experienced childhood abandonment, rejection, multiple adoptions, and the challenges of moving from India to the US as a teenager, she understands the struggle of identity, belonging, and finding a sense of home. Her journey also includes a difficult divorce, single motherhood, a head injury, and years of navigating deep personal trauma—experiences that have shaped her passion for helping others through their own challenges. She is currently in the process of reclaiming her birth name, Roopa, and her true identity.

As the parent of two young adults—a 19-year-old daughter and 21-year-old son—Karen is embracing a new season of life, one filled with change, growth, and the realization that parenting is an ever-evolving role. She understands firsthand the emotional weight that caregivers carry—the exhaustion, the sacrifices, the moments of doubt—but also the deep love and purpose that come with it.

Through all her struggles, Karen has learned the power of resilience, self-discovery, and finding hope in the hardest moments. She has a deep heart for others going through difficult times, children and adults from challenging backgrounds, and those who feel unseen or lost in their journey. Her favorite pastimes include creatively exploring new recipes brimming with rich flavor and spices, or dancing to Bollywood music. Karen is passionate about faith, music, dance, and seeing people set free from the weight of their past.