The Lims Looking to Unite Christian Parents of Children with a Disability

00:00

Media Player Error
Update your browser or Flash plugin

Listen: Igraine and Josh Lim chat with Ben McEachen about their community of families living with disabilities

What is The 139 Collective and why do you need to know about it?

To know about The 139 Collective – a support group for Christian families living with disability – you need to meet Igraine and Josh Lim and their boys, Josiah and Eli.

Igraine and Josh had a “fairly complicated pregnancy” with first son, Josiah.

In the womb, Josiah had to be operated upon. Fluid had to be drained from his lungs as it was stopping their development.

Many questions swiftly emerged for Igraine and Josh. Would their son survive after birth? What action might be taken before his birth?

“We basically lived through that pregnancy with a lot of unknowns,” Igraine said.

“But miraculously he was born in 2018, healthy and well. I think we had a whole two days thinking everything fine.”

Sadly, Josiah’s health plummeted. As Igraine and Josh were to take him home, Josiah needed heart surgery and was having trouble breathing.

Hope 103.2 is proudly supported by

Adding to an already nightmarish scenario for new parents, Josiah began to have seizures.

“Eventually, he was diagnosed with a rare condition called PACS1 Syndrome,” Igraine said.

To the best of the Lims’ knowledge, only about 200 cases of PACS1 have been diagnosed – across the entire planet.

Two hundred.

The developmental delays associated with PACS1 are significant and enduring.

As the Igraine and Josh cared for and loved Josiah, they sought out help and support from people in a similar family situation.

Actually, they were seeking a support group. A wide range of parents and families whose wisdom, experience and faith they could draw upon.

But the Lims couldn’t find any such group for Christian families living with a disability.

Those close to Igraine and Josh suggested that they start such a group.

Totally aware of being novice parents and not pretending to be experts in support groups, the Lims decided to give it a go.

So, the 139 Collective was born and Igraine and Josh told Hope Afternoons all about it, including what it means for their Christian faith.

The 139 Collective support group website stories — Source: the139collective.com.au / sharing stories to encourage and inspire others going through similar struggles

Listen to the full interview with Igraine and Josh in the player above.

Ben McEachen

Ben hosts Mornings on Hope 103.2 and the ‘Money: Faith & Finance’ podcast. He is well known for his long-running work as a movie reviewer on Open House and The Big Picture. With a background in journalism and theology, he brings thoughtful insight to conversations around faith, culture and current affairs.