Raising Hope Through the Hardest Days: A Rare Diagnosis, Resilience, and a Service Dog

Brenda Marra opens up about the moment her family learned her daughter, Rena, has Pitt Hopkins Syndrome, and how life changed from “watch and wait” into years of delayed milestones, uncertainty, and learning to parent outside the typical timeline. She shares what it felt like to navigate grief and comparison while also fighting for inclusion and safety in everyday public spaces. Brenda also talks about the wins that land differently when you’ve waited so long…including Rena taking her first independent steps at 4.5 years old. The episode follows Brenda’s move from searching for answers to building connection through other moms, disability advocacy groups, and her platform Rena’s Corner, where she shares adaptive resources and partnerships to help other families feel less alone. A major focus is their mission to raise funds for a specially trained service dog through Four Paws for Ability, and why independence and safety matter just as much as hope.