New podcast episode: Weylon the Warrior
A mother's journey through adoption, advocacy, and hope.
Friday, August 29, 2025
When Gennifer Friend and her husband got a late-night call about an unexpected baby, they had no idea it would lead them to a life filled with challenges, resilience, and unconditional love.
In this heartfelt episode, Gennifer shares the powerful story of adopting her son Weylon, born with a brain injury and complex medical needs. From navigating seizures and hospital stays to building a strong family bond and advocating fiercely for his care, Gennifer opens up about the realities of raising a child with disabilities, while balancing a large, blended family. Her journey is one of perseverance, community support, and redefining what’s possible when love leads the way.
Adjusting the Sails is a podcast about the lives and specific challenges children with special healthcare needs and other disabilities face along with their families, caregivers and service providers, and how to manage those challenges. The podcast is a platform for all disability-related topics to be discussed and serves as a mediator between families and caregivers, allowing them to share their stories and experiences. Adjusting the Sails features guest speakers, panelists and a variety of program representatives and service providers to offer education and training to the listener.
This podcast is sponsored by the West Virginia Department of Health and Human Resources, Office of Maternal, Child, and Family Health/Children with Special Health Care Needs Program and the West Virginia Family 2 Family Health Information Center and produced by the West Virginia University Center for Excellence in Disabilities.
Opinions shared by the guests of the show are their own and do not necessarily represent the official views of the hosts, the Department of Human Services Office of Maternal Child and Family Health/Children with Special Health Care Needs Program, the West Virginia Family 2 Family Health Information Center, nor the West Virginia Center for Excellence in Disabilities.