ABOUT JANELY'S HOPE
OUR MISSION
Our mission is to serve, support, and encourage families who has a child with complex medical needs and/or disability so that they have more energy to pour on their child and family. We aim to do all we do through the power and strength of the Holy Spirit, to honor and remember Janely’s life and suffering, and to glorify God.
OUR VISION
We envision a world where every family with a child with complex medical needs and/or disability will experience the love of Jesus through finding hope, encouragement and strength that comes from him. Our hope is these families will feel seen, valued and included.
OUR VALUES
At Janely's Hope our highest values are: the love of Christ entering into the suffering and treating all in a way that helps them feel acceptance, belonging and truly cared for. Humility. Encouragement. Advocacy. Inclusion. Compassion. Awareness. Integrity.
"May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound in hope." Romans 15:13
FROM JANELY'S PARENTS
We had the greatest privilege of our lives to be parents to our daughter, Janely Hope. Janely was extremely beautiful, joyful, fun, sassy, sweet and special - she was our star and we were and still are crazy about her! Janely did not quite make it to 10 years old due to being born with significant disabilities, some of which her primary diagnoses included: quadriplegia, cerebral palsy, intractable epilepsy, loss of vision, profound cognitive delay, neuromuscular scoliosis, and an inability to form or use words or eat by mouth. Sharing in deep suffering is deeply sacred and deeply difficult. We walked through our lives together trying to give Janely our all and care for her to the very best of our ability. We know the realities of chronic, long-term sleep deprivation, little to no time to care for yourself, and the emotional and mental toll of chronic and frequent stress, crisis and traumatic medical experiences. We know what it feels like to feel very isolated whether alone or with people. We know the immense and detailed planning it takes to leave the house, let alone plan a trip. We know what it feels like to keep moving, loving and caring for your child while your body and back are hurting. Our great hope and heart's desire is as you read these words and receive any services or help we hope we have to offer you, that you feel so very seen, validated in your hardship and cared for. Gosh, we know it is so very hard and yet you love your child with your whole heart too! If anything you read above feels like it resonates with you and the life you live in caring for your special child with complex medical problems and/or disability...WELCOME HOME! We are with you and for you and you are not alone! We would love to hear from you and truly pray you will feel encouraged, strengthened, and met with compassion in the midst of your hardships. We are for you and your child, and we know our Savior Jesus is too!
Sketch of Janely leaping out of her wheelchair up to Jesus in heaven
OUR TEAM
Board of Directors
Meet the dedicated individuals behind Janely's Hope who are passionate about making a difference in the lives of families.
Shawna Landazuri
President
Shawna Landazuri was born and raised mostly in Missouri and learned about Jesus at a young age. She fully surrendered her life to Christ in college. Shawna received her Bachelor’s of Science in Psychology at Drury University and her Master’s in Clinical Social Work at the University of Southern California. She works now as a Christian counselor and specializes in treating trauma, anxiety, depression and grief counseling. She loves integrating God and His Truth into counseling. Shawna felt called by God to walk with people in their pain in hopes that their journey will lead to healing and transformation. She has now been doing this work for about 17 years. Shawna met Juan Landazuri after college and they were married shortly after. Shawna is the mother of Janely Hope. God clearly put Janely in Juan and Shawna’s path, while living in Ecuador, and He opened the door for them to adopt her. Shawna loved most of all to singi with Janely, help her play and find silly and creative ways to make Janely laugh or smile. After a life-long battle of complex and severe medical problems and disabilities, Janely went home to be with Jesus in July of 2023, shortly before her 10th birthday. She considers being Janely’s Mom one of the greatest privileges of her life and greatly anticipates the day she will be reunited with Janely in heaven. Shawna had the dream of starting a non-profit after a few years of learning to be Janely’s Mom and experiencing the hardship of caring for complex medical needs and disabilities and the isolation that often accompanies it. Prayerfully, Shawna pursued God and counsel from trusted supports on if and when to go about the process. God continually confirmed that providing support, encouragement and strength to other parents in a similar journey was from Him and His heart for those suffering. Shawna hopes that parents of a child with complex medical problems and disabilities will feel seen, not alone and receive compassion and support from Janely’s Hope. Her prayer is the rich and deep love of Jesus will be felt through all Janely’s Hope is able to do and that more will come to know Him as their Savior. In her down time, Shawna loves to tend to her flowers, be in nature, sing, and connect and laugh with friends and family.
Pam Stafford
Treasurer
Pam is a speech language pathologist and a certified teacher of students with visual impairment. Pam graduated in 1988 from the University of Central Arkansas with a master's degree in communication disorders. Over the years she has worked with all ages in hospitals, nursing homes, private practice, preschools, and public schools. While working in a school who had a student with a visual impairment, Pam noticed a need and went back to college to get certified to provide vision services in schools. She obtained her certification as a teacher of students with visual impairment in 2014 and has worked with children who have communication needs and/or visual impairment ever since. Two years ago, Pam opened her own private practice and serves children and families in the southwest Missouri area. Pam is also a wife to Gary, and a mother to three children, Mahalie, Lurah, and Corbin. Recently a son-in-law, Gabe, joined the family and soon, another son-in-law, Austin, will be added. Pam enjoys hiking and outdoor activities. She is also a crafter who likes crocheting, flower arranging, cross stitching, and learning new crafts. Most of all, she enjoys any activity she can do that involves her family.
Denise Meyer
Secretary
As an English Language Specialist in the public school system, Denise is passionate about coming alongside children and their families to advocate and give them a place of belonging and a voice. She is deeply committed to see those who may feel overlooked or insignificant and to remind them of their God-given value and worth, while giving them practical ways to reach their goals. Denise has had the opportunity to come alongside families in multiple ways, including leading the children’s ministry of a large church and helping to Biblically equip families from many backgrounds and stories. She led a ministry to come alongside English Learners to teach them English and help them navigate a new country. Finally, Denise had the opportunity to open and direct a supplementary school in Nicaragua, reaching the most marginalized, to remind them of their dignity and worth, but most importantly of God’s love for them. Denise has a bachelor's degree in Biblical Studies and Elementary Education as well as receiving her TESOL Masters certification from Missouri State University. You will often find Denise with a good cup of coffee in her hand, running shoes in her car, and a good pun just waiting for the right opportunity to laugh. Her sole source of assurance and hope is God himself and the numerous testimonies of His faithfulness in her life. Lamentations 3:21-23 says, “Yet this I call to mind and therefore I have hope: because of the Lord’s great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness.”
Tara Whitman
Board of Directors
Tara Whitman is the mother of two beautiful adult children. In 2005 her daughter was born with a chromosome abnormality which led to several other diagnoses including Epilepsy, Autism and Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities. Without the support of other families walking similar paths all these years, life could have been lonely, frustrating and discouraging. Tara found friendships, purpose outside of her child, and fulfillment in connecting with younger families to pass on the wisdom and resources others had given to her. In 2015, Tara graduated from Ozark Technical College with an associates degree as a Physical Therapist Assistant. She began her career in pediatric therapy where she found a new purpose. Encouraging families, but also cheering on children as they learned new skills and adapted to mobility issues. She has worked in both outpatient, school districts, and aquatic settings. Tara was honored when asked to join the board of Janely's Hope. She understands the daily, if not by the minute, struggle families experience. Her hope is that parents, families, and professionals can find strength, encouragement and a sense of community during their journey through their interaction with Janely's Hope.
Hannah Wingo
Board of Directors
Hannah is a child of God, wife to Evan, and mom to Gage, Caleb, and Grace. She has professional experience in marketing and events in the nonprofit sector. Since becoming a mom, she strives to advocate for inclusion and accessibility for ALL people. She also shares about her parenting experiences on her blog, Wingin’ It. In 2022, she and her husband founded enGAGE Mobility to help families fund accessible transportation, inspired by their oldest son and their personal experiences receiving incredible generosity. The Wingo family enjoys time together at home and outdoors, particularly when water is involved at the lake or pool! Their spirit of adventure is realized in ways large and small, whether through boat rides, adaptive ski trips, or spontaneous dinner dates with friends. Hannah believes life can be simultaneously good and hard and that feelings like joy and pain, grief and gratitude, coexist. Her favorite part of the journey God has her on is witnessing the hands of feet of Jesus here on earth through the connections and gifts only He can ordain.