Adoption Doesn’t “Save” Anyone — It Changes Everyone with Nancy McMurtry

This one is special. The Atlanta Braves is our family's favorite team and holds a special place in our hearts. Cooper's mission to advocate for children and pitch at every MLB stadium has finally led us to Atlanta. What a miracle-filled trip. Cooper's Atlanta News Interview: https://www.fox5atlanta.com/video/1266107 ⁠⁠⁠https://rods.org/⁠⁠⁠

Our final episode about the RODS Heroes trip to Eastern Europe is here. Listen as we share our experiences from Bulgaria. So many precious memories, but more importantly, strong connections made with people and governments. Time to start advocating for these kids! ⁠https://rods.org/⁠

What if everything the world told you about disability was wrong? In this powerful episode, Mitch Holeve shares the raw and transformative journey of raising his son Garrett, a trailblazer with Down syndrome who defied every limit—including stepping into the cage as a mixed martial artist. Mitch unpacks the emotional highs and societal hurdles of parenting a child with disabilities, exposing outdated perceptions and advocating for a world that expects more because our kids are capable of more. From volunteering at Eunie's Buddies and mentoring new parents, Mitch challenges us to stop settling for sympathy and start building support systems that empower. This episode is a call to action—for positivity, for inclusion, and for a shift in how we define success, strength, and belonging.

What if the very thing you feared most became the source of your deepest joy?In this raw and unfiltered episode, Amanda Ellard—mother, author, and fierce advocate—opens up about the life-altering journey of raising a child with Down syndrome. She doesn’t sugarcoat it. The grief is real. The trauma is real. But so is the joy—piercing, profound, and often found in the most unexpected places.Amanda speaks to the quiet battles adoptive parents face: the emotional exhaustion, the fear of failure, the invisible weight of parenting children with trauma. She challenges the narrative that love is always easy—revealing how trust must be earned, how vulnerability is non-negotiable, and how therapy and self-care are not luxuries but lifelines.This episode is a rallying cry: Every child—especially those the world too often overlooks—is worthy of celebration, belonging, and relentless advocacy. And perhaps the greatest transformation isn’t just in the child... but in us.

What if the stories the world needs most are the ones we rarely see on screen?In this powerful episode, we sit down with David and Jackson Hughens—a father-son filmmaking team on a mission to challenge the status quo of storytelling. Their journey began not on a film set, but in the heart of a community too often overlooked: individuals with Down syndrome. What started as a personal connection evolved into a calling—to create films that don’t just include people with disabilities, but center them as heroes, artists, and changemakers.From intimate mini-documentaries to the ambitious development of a feature film inspired by the magnetic and unforgettable Jay, the Hughens are flipping the script on what Hollywood thinks audiences want. They speak candidly about the uphill battle to secure funding, the emotional weight of telling stories that matter, and how their time in Armenia deepened their understanding of the global need for adoption and advocacy.This episode isn’t just about filmmaking—it’s about demanding better from media, amplifying underrepresented voices, and proving that individuals with Down syndrome don’t need to be “fixed” or pitied. They need to be seen.

In this powerful episode of See The Miracle, Miles and Elizabeth Adair pull back the curtain on a journey most people only admire from a distance—adopting a child with Down syndrome from halfway across the world. What began as a quiet calling turned into a bold, public act of faith, one that challenged cultural norms, tested relationships, and demanded a level of conviction most aren’t willing to step into. From Elizabeth’s formative experiences in Ecuador to the nights spent doubting, fundraising, and fielding unsolicited opinions, their story is a raw and beautiful reminder: love doesn’t follow the rules of comfort or convenience. It disrupts, transforms, and invites us to grow.With honesty and heart, the Adairs share how community support became their lifeline and how their children, rather than being burdened, are being empowered by this journey. Their message is clear and unwavering: children with Down syndrome aren’t charity—they are world changers. And when a family says yes to one, they’re not just adding a member—they're building a legacy of inclusion, joy, and radical love for generations to come.

What if the system isn’t broken — but just missing heart?In this powerful episode, I sit down with Nancy McMurtry, Director of Development at Courage Rains — a nonprofit in Highland, Utah, that’s rewriting the rules of healing through equine-assisted therapy.Nancy opens up about the raw, beautiful, and often complicated journey of adoption — including the emotional depths of adopting her sons, Liam and Eli. She doesn't shy away from the hard parts: the wait, the uncertainty, the heartbreak. But she also reveals the unshakable power of open adoption, and why her family’s decision to become certified foster parents wasn’t heroic — it was human.We also dive into the life-changing work happening at Courage Rains, where therapy isn’t done in sterile rooms — it’s done in pastures, alongside horses, hope, and holy ground. As they gear up for their annual fundraising gala, Nancy reminds us: healing looks different than most people expect — and sometimes the most overlooked methods are the most miraculous.This episode is a challenge to conventional thinking — and a love letter to every child, every family, and every horse who's been part of the healing.

What happens when a mother refuses to accept the world’s definition of worth? In this powerful episode, Laura Belk shares what it means to go against cultural norms, medical advice, and societal expectations in the name of love, truth, and advocacy. As a mother of nine—four with special needs—Laura opens up about the heartbreak and hope of raising children who the world often devalues. She takes us behind the scenes of Nurturing Nations, the nonprofit working to dismantle dangerous beliefs in Ghana, where children with disabilities are sometimes seen as curses rather than blessings.Laura’s story is not just about adoption or disability—it’s about the radical act of believing every life is valuable, even when systems, traditions, and even doctors say otherwise. From adopting the first child with Down syndrome out of Ghana, to confronting the medical community’s bias against children with chromosomal differences, Laura invites us to see disability not as a deficit, but as a divine difference.This conversation will challenge you to rethink what it means to be “normal,” to question the narratives we’re handed, and to discover the unexpected beauty that exists when we dare to embrace every kind of diversity.

Brace yourself for a raw and unapologetic conversation that challenges the way we think about adoption, faith, and family. In this episode of the See the Miracle podcast, host Brady Murray sits down with Tanna Roush—a mother of nine, including six adopted children—to discuss the radical, transformative power of love and commitment. Tanna doesn’t sugarcoat the reality: adoption is messy, heartbreaking, and not for the faint of heart. But for those brave enough to step up, the rewards are profound.Tanna’s story is one of faith put to the test—a journey that began with a simple, gut-wrenching prayer for God to break her heart for what breaks His. From the orphanages of China to the bustling streets of Bulgaria, Tanna and her husband found themselves called to rescue children that the world too often overlooks—children with special needs, abandoned and forgotten. She doesn’t hold back about the brutal truths of neglect in orphanages or the physical and emotional scars that her children carried home with them.But Tanna’s message is clear: just because it’s hard doesn’t mean it’s not worth it. And maybe—just maybe—more families should be stepping up, even when it feels uncomfortable or inconvenient. Love doesn’t come with guarantees, and neither does adoption. But Tanna’s conviction is unwavering: every child deserves a family willing to fight for them. Whether you’re considering adoption, feeling called to advocate, or just curious about what real commitment looks like, this episode will challenge your assumptions and dare you to reconsider your capacity to love.

Rewriting the Narrative on Adoption and Down SyndromeIn this thought-provoking episode of the See the Miracle podcast, host Brady Murray sits down with Whittney Moody, a fearless advocate for individuals with Down syndrome and adoption. Whittney shares how she and her husband Michael always dreamed of adopting—but it wasn’t until the birth of their son, Jude, who has Down syndrome, that they truly understood the deeper meaning of acceptance and belonging. Their journey led them to adopt Max, another child with special needs, creating an unbreakable bond between their sons and reshaping the lives of everyone in their family.But here’s the controversial truth: society often views children with disabilities as burdens rather than gifts. Whitney challenges this mindset, proving that love, resilience, and a strong community can turn what many see as limitations into extraordinary opportunities. From an affirming hospital experience after Jude’s birth to the powerful impact of her uncle with Down syndrome, Whittney’s perspective is one that more people need to hear—whether they’re ready for it or not.Through performances at UGA Miracle and daily acts of service, Max and Jude are not just living with their diagnoses—they are rewriting the narrative. This episode will make you question outdated beliefs about disability, family, and the true meaning of inclusion. Are you willing to see the miracle?