About this episode

Tegan shares her journey of motherhood with a child with special needs, exploring themes of faith, love, and community support through hardship.

Tegan is a former Canadian resident and full-time engineer who now calls Pittsburgh home, where she's a full-time mom of three, always chasing sunshine and finding adventure in everyday family life. Known in the Rare and Mighty (RAM) community for her honest, "no sugarcoating" approach and her thoughtful exploration of special needs theology, Tegan shares the life-changing journey that began when her middle daughter, Eloise, was diagnosed with the rare genetic condition FOXG1 syndrome at just ten months old. In this deeply moving conversation, Tegan opens up about navigating the heartbreak of a late miscarriage, the shock of an unexpected diagnosis, and the difficult questions that challenged her faith. She reflects on how prayer, community, and God's unwavering presence reshaped her understanding of suffering, goodness, and unconditional love. Together, we explore the difference between grieving the future you imagined and finding joy in the life you have, the daily invitation to sacrificial love through caregiving, and how raising a child with special needs has transformed Tegan's relationship with God. She also shares the beautiful story behind naming her youngest son, Boaz…

People in this episode

Host: Becky Davidson

Guest: Tegan

Topics covered

• special needs motherhood
• faith and hardship
• caregiving
• grief and loss
• community support
• unconditional love

Keywords

• special needs
• motherhood
• faith
• grief
• community
• FOXG1 syndrome
• caregiving
• unconditional love

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: Rare and Mighty (RAM)

Places: Canada, Pittsburgh

More episodes of Rising Above with Becky Davidson

• Finding Blessings and Building Resilience in the Journey of a Special Needs Parent · July 21, 2026 · 45 min
• Embracing Mission, Adoption, and Culture in Belize with Tim Zittle · July 7, 2026 · 48 min
• Embracing Resilience: A Single Mom’s Journey with a Special Needs Child · June 30, 2026 · 43 min
• Finding Joy in the Hard Stuff with Meredith Cornish: Trusting God While Raising a Family of 15 · June 23, 2026 · 42 min
• Making Prom Possible: Will Spears and the Power of Inclusion · June 16, 2026 · 41 min

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