The West Family

Bob West is the president and founder of Need Project Inc. a non-profit ministry dedicated to supporting families with special needs children and adults.

When Bob and his wife, Sue, a registered nurse, were married 19 years ago, they embodied all the hopes and dreams of your typical newlywed couple. Between Bob’s professional background in the printing industry and Sue’s hard earned nursing degree, the West’s had every intention of living a “normal and quiet life” all while residing in their modest home in northern California.

The birth of their first son, Kyle, in 1992, was eagerly awaited and highly anticipated. Born two months premature, Bob and Sue sensed a slight delay in their new son’s early development. He seemed to struggle to do the same things other children did with little effort. Finally, at the age of two, Kyle was officially diagnosed with Cerebral Palsy.

Life would never again be the same.

Kyle in the ICU

The West family, already familiar with the medical profession thanks to Sue’s background and employment, became even more familiar with hundreds of specialists, all with varying degrees of bedside manner. Over the course of 17 years, Kyle would endure 11 surgeries, each designed to help him improve his overall mobility and dexterity.

Now the parents of a child with special needs, Bob and Sue became keenly aware of the struggles that parents have in raising children with special challenges. Understanding the support these families needed and desired, they began a small program, at first consisting of a single child with special needs, at their local church. Titled “Special Friends”, the ministry grew slowly, overcoming a multitude of challenges and obstacles.

After Bob joined the staff at the worldwide ministry Focus on the Family, the West’s son, the delightful and talented, Kyle, then seven years-old, met National Radio Hall of Fame host Dr. James Dobson at a ministry picnic. They forged a fast friendship and after Kyle appeared on the Focus on the Family radio program to discuss the life of a child with special needs, the West’s passion for their personal ministry outreach ascended to new heights. Kyle’s program became one of Focus’ most popular broadcasts of all time. Complete strangers began to recognize the voice. Years later, at the age of 13, his “fans” were thrilled to see him reappear in the award-winning Christian worldview course, The Truth Project.

Beginning in 2006, Bob and Sue expanded their support to families nationwide through their Need Project ministry and website. Together, with an enthusiastic team of supporters and families all around the world, they offer a message of hope to parents in a culture that has devalued life. Thanks to the generosity of many friends, Need Project creates encouraging and helpful resources, and educates groups about the needs of these very unique and wonderful families.