Beside You: How Lukas' Special Needs Revealed Mine

A love that says . . .

"I will be there for you even when there is nothing I can do."

We wordlessly say . . .

"Here I am. I have come to sit beside you."



Why do we have such shame around our needs? No one wants to be called "needy." And yet, when you have a child with special needs, you realize you have to change your perspective on this word. How do we let our children know their needs are not occasions for shame but rather an opportunity for community?



Kimberly Sanders generously shares the unpredictable struggle and rich lessons learned through Lukas, her son who has both Down Syndrome and Autism. This memoir not only explores Lukas' needs, but also how he illuminates her special needs . . . ones we all share, but often try to dismiss or hide.



In a society that celebrates big platforms, bold voices, and fast action, Lukas reveals the beauty found in small victories, speaking without words, and slow, hard-earned transformations. Beside You is a powerful and grace-filled memoir told in vignettes, covering the first 10 years of Lukas' life. It gives you a peek behind the curtain into the sacred space of a mother's tender and resilient heart. Join her as she sits beside her children in the muck and mystery of life. Their story is spiritual, vulnerable, and relentlessly hopeful.