The heart of We Are Brave Together is to preserve and protect the mental health of caregiving moms of disabled and neurodiverse children. To be a caregiving mom is to be a mother who cares for any child or adult child with any type of challenge: medical, mental, behavioral, genetic, developmental, psychiatric, learning, cognitive, or physical. The We Are Brave Together community is woven with one common thread; we are here to support and strengthen one another. Every caregiving mom leaves a Brave Together retreat, gathering, workshop, support group or online event feeling both recharged and empowered. Your story matters, and you are not alone.

Jessica Patay is passionate about serving caregiving moms and creating authentic communities.  She has always fostered deep, life-giving friendships and has been intentional about her community of girlfriends.  As a caregiving mom herself, this passion carries on as she gathers women to encourage them, mentor them, inspire them, and validate their intense and precious journeys.

Her own story as a mom to a child with a disability, began in 2003 when her second son, Ryan, was born and diagnosed with a rare, genetic disorder, called Prader-Willi syndrome. Within two days of receiving this diagnosis, she received a phone call from a mentor mom from the Prader-Willi California Foundation.  Immediately she felt relief and comfort knowing she was NOT ALONE. Thankfully, Ryan is sandwiched in the middle of siblings Luke and Kate, both fierce and loving cheerleaders and helpers to Ryan.

If Jessica could show up on every mother’s doorstep, with flowers, chocolate, a witty-and-wise motherhood manual, and…a gorgeous banner that says, “You are not alone,” she would. And you never know, she just may do this.  The We Are Brave Together organization was born out of this desire and heart.

Jessica Patay has fueled WABT’s growth into an international community of almost 2800 moms. She has helped launch over 25 support groups all over the United States, and in New Zealand and Australia, in the last five years. She is the host of our podcast, “Brave Together Parenting with Jessica Patay”  found on Apple, Spotify, Amazon and YouTube. Brave Together Parenting is in its 7th season and has offered a library of inspirational stories and resources for moms in the trenches of caregiving.

Her favorite topics:

• The Power of Community

• You Are Worthy of Rest, Respite and Connection

• What Our Children Teach Us

• What About the Siblings in the Family?

• The Cyclical Grief in Caring For a Child with a Disability

• Self-Care is Not a Curse Word