My name is Jeremy Warren. My wife Heidi and I have been married since 2003. We have five boys whose ages are 14, 12, 8, 5, and 2. Our family has a family mission statement, which sums up who we are:

“Pursue God’s best through meaningful relationships, adventurous living, and intentional rest.” 

We believe first and foremost that God is the creator and sustainer of life and everything we do should be for the purpose of glorifying Him and the life in which we have been given both in the exciting times and the challenging times. 

We are a homeschooling family that puts logic and critical thinking at the forefront of education so our boys will know how to think and not simply what to think and become a valuable part of society as men of God in their day. We enjoy spending time with close friends, along with camping and many other outdoor activities. We also enjoy down time and the importance of rest and relaxation to be rejuvenated and ready for what’s next.

Landon’s Story

Our second oldest son, Landon, was full-term pregnancy but upon delivery developed a knot in his umbilical cord which cut off oxygen and blood to the brain, resulting in a diagnosis of Hypoxic Ischemic Encephalopathy. He came out completely purple and was not breathing and once stabilized was experiencing severe apnea episodes that resulted in a tracheostomy surgery. 

Landon spent two and a half years on a ventilator and oxygen before getting stabilized well enough to breathe on his own and not require machines. During this time, he was fed through a stomach tube and then had that removed at five years old. We were told Landon would never walk, talk, or function as a typical boy. With extensive therapy every week for the past 12 years,Landon has come a long way and is able to walk short distances on his own, feed himself certain foods, and communicate by taking your hand and guiding you where he wants to go. Although he is non-verbal and in his wheelchair most of the time, he loves life and is happy most all the time. He is a joy to his brothers, to Heidi and I, and to our family and friends who love him dearly. 

People might think that Landon’s physical challenges keep us from doing what we love but that is just not true. We love being a family and doing life together. Landon loves going places—splash pads, swimming, camping, watching his brothers’ sporting events, riding in the bike trailer, and simply going to Lowe’s with dad. He has even had the opportunity to play kickball this year with a group at our church call YAK’s (Youth of All Abilities Kickball) which he has certainly enjoyed.

Dads On Special Assignment

Part of my story was knowing that I needed help navigating the thoughts and emotions that come with being a husband to my wife and a dad to my children and raising one that has special needs. I searched and asked questions and found very little available specifically for dads. Through prayer and opportunities God was putting in my path it became evident it was time to launch a ministry that did exactly that. 

In 2021, I started DOSA, which stands for Dads On Special Assignment. It’s a men’s ministry that serves dads of children with special needs by providing tools and resources that equip them to become healthier mentally, physically, and spiritually in order to lead their families well and embrace their role as a dad on special assignment.

I don’t know that we can truly ever know the impact this ministry has had or will have in its entirety but what I do know is that I have had multiple individuals share testimonies with me about how this group has helped their family live out their mission. The biggest thing is to recognize that there is a God that created everything into existence and that we have been given this special assignment to care for his children. It is often the very things we learn through our kids’ lives that help us truly value life and draw us closer to our creator.

A Message For Dads

For dads who are just starting their special assignment, it can be overwhelming and that is an understatement for many. We are only overwhelmed because we are trying to view life from the limited information we have as a dad. One of the things that helped me early on was to understand that there is more to this story than I can even grasp. So, don’t try to take control and don’t check out. Take it one day at a time, one moment at a time. We so often try to live in the past or dream of the future and will ultimately miss out on the most significant moment in time, the present. Be present in the present. Sometimes we can be present physically but not mentally. Don’t allow this to be you. Your child needs you, you need them, and you both need the Lord. 

If you’ve been on this journey a while and you’ve been tempted to call it quits, it may sound cliché, but don’t give up. Recognize that you aren’t strong enough, smart enough, or caring enough to do this any longer on your own. Allow yourself to be vulnerable and cry out to the one who knew you before you were born, who determined that you were the right one for this assignment, and is waiting and willing to bring you through this if you would just call on Him. There is no substitute for a relationship with our Heavenly Father and it may just be this circumstance that was necessary to draw you closer to Him.

For the motivated father who is working hard to do his best, realize that motivation can only get you so far. Even a motivated father can run out of steam from time to time. So, then what? This is truly where Dads On Special Assignment can have the greatest impact. Men need community with others who are in the same camp to provide encouragement when it’s needed for them and to be able to provide it when they are able. We were created for community and relationship and DOSA is a community of dads who help in motivating one another for their special assignment.

Our long-term vision for DOSA is that every dad that has a child with special needs would find hope, healing, and purpose. Visit https://dosausa.org/ to subscribe to our email newsletter. Subscribe to https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCnjJJLMvBi4NaKZeOPsiiww and https://anchor.fm/dads-on-special-assignment, where you can hear some of the testimonies of fathers who have been impacted by the ministry.