Today, we’d like to introduce you to Jennie Dopp.
Hi Jennie, thanks for joining us today. We’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
My story begins 23 years ago when I was 5 months pregnant with my son, Jackson. During a routine ultrasound, I was told Jackson had brain structure anomalies. At that time, we weren’t sure what this news would mean for our little boy, but we knew our path and expectations needed to shift.
After many years of genetic testing and specialist visits, Jackson was finally diagnosed with 7q11.23 duplication and autism. At the time of diagnosis, he was the 1st person diagnosed in Utah with this rare chromosome duplication and the 11th in the world. Jackson was truly a pioneer. He is now almost 24 years old. He has finished his public education program, he works part-time at McDonald’s, and his autism superpower is politics. He is excited for this fall’s elections!
Being a caregiver to Jackson for over two decades, combined with my professional experience as a disability resource provider, has given me a unique perspective and knowledge base. Jackson’s diagnosis was rare. I didn’t feel like I had a community or someone to show me the path. While we eventually found tools, it took a lot of work, tears, and time. Families sometimes struggle because they don’t know what they don’t know.
My desire has always been to help other families impacted by special healthcare needs and disabilities. I believe that when a family has the resources it needs to be successful, everyone benefits. Strong families help create strong communities.
Professionally, I have been working with families impacted by disabilities for over a decade. However, CaringTide is a new path for me. CaringTide’s mission revolves around disability planning.
Our goal and passion is to help every family receive the resources they need for their loved one with a disability and their family and to answer one of the heaviest questions families like mine face, “What will happen to my loved one when I am no longer able to care for them?” CaringTide assists families as they plan for the future, and we help them answer this important question.
We all face challenges, but would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
Caregiver fatigue is real, especially when mental health challenges and significant emotional dysregulation are part of the equation. While it is frustrating to receive a single piece of paper with a diagnosis summary and be told, “Best of luck!” you also feel fortunate to have finally received a diagnosis after 7 years of searching.
As a parent, you sometimes feel helpless. You may not have the tools to address your most significant needs. You may feel hopeless when you go to specialist appointments, and you know more about your child’s condition than a service provider.
Our family has certainly white-knuckled our way through many days and nights. While our experience hasn’t been easy, it has given me the insight and ability to personally relate with other families who have had to navigate similar challenges.
When our paths cross, I feel a kinship with other families in the disability community. When we come across one another, it’s almost this unspoken acknowledgment of, “I see you!”
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next, you can tell us a bit more about your business.
CaringTide mission is to help every family impacted by disabilities answer the question, “What will happen to my loved one when I am no longer able to care for them?”
While other professionals help families plan certain aspects of the future, CaringTide’s holistic approach helps families address their current pain points or challenges they are navigating, as well as looking to the future. CaringTide believes if a family can address three main areas of planning (family resources, financial security, and legal support), a family can have more peace of mind surrounding their future as well as the care and well-being of their loved one with a disability.
CaringTide’s approach allows our specialists to meet one-on-one with families to assess their needs, desires, and goals for the future. A personalized roadmap is outlined, and families are provided with a step-by-step plan to help them achieve their goals. Our specialists walk with families every step of the way.
What do you think about happiness?
I love seeing families like mine being able to breathe, feel at peace, and enjoy their children. The path we walk is not always easy, and not many understand the great responsibility and the weight we feel as parents. We navigate life differently than most.
A simple trip to the grocery store could involve a great deal of planning. We can’t take a vacation without considering all the impacts and necessary accommodations. Every time we see the school’s number on our phone, anxiety rises, and we breathe deeply as we contemplate the need for the call.
So much of a family’s day can be spent in the minutia and responsibilities of caregiving. When you have a loved one with high needs, the energy in the home and the physical body hold high levels of stress and tension. It isn’t until that tension is released that you realize how rare it is to have a moment of peace and relaxation.
No one can remove the extra DNA that causes my loved one’s challenges, but when I have resources, tools, and services like CaringTide offers, I feel pressure released. When there is less pressure, there is room for more happiness and joy! My child has been my greatest teacher and will most likely be my lifelong companion.
While I feel fortunate to be entrusted with such a treasure, I also have to ensure I have the strength, energy, capacity, and balance to navigate life with this, my most precious gift.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://caringtide.com
- Instagram: @caringtide
- Facebook: @thecaringtide
- Youtube: @CaringTide
