Hello, my name is Dorsey Ross, and I am the host of the Dorsey Ross Show. I started the Dorsey Ross Show to interview people of faith who have stories of faith and overcoming trials and difficulties. In this podcast, you will hear stories of all kinds. Some will make you laugh, cry, and even say I can connect with that story or that person. I would love to encourage you to check out these stories of faith, encouragement, and inspiration my guests share on the show. I hope these stories give you hope, to get you through your week and your life. Please share them with your family, friends, co-workers, and anyone who needs a little touch of encouragement today.

Dorsey was born on January 16th, 1977, with a congenital disability known as Apert’s Syndrome. When Dorsey was born, his forehead was pushed outward, his nose and mouth were pushed inward, and his fingers and toes were fused, meaning he had no individual movement of them. Doctor’s gave Dorsey’s parents no hope for his survival and advised them to put him into an institution. His parents both knew and trusted in God, and they believed that God would do great things in Dorsey’s life. Throughout his life, Dorsey has had to overcome a lot of obstacles, and trials, being bullied, called names like monster and freak, and undergone multiple operations.

Teachers told Dorsey he would not make it in college, and with all odds against him, he entered Queens Borough Community College. After four years there, and after attaining an associate degree, he entered the University of Valley Forge. After years of hard work and perseverance, he graduated with a Bachelor’s Degree in Youth Ministry. His life saying is, “can’t is not in my vocabulary” because, for most of his life, he has never used the word can’t. He believes that with God, all things are possible and that he can do all things through Christ who gives him strength. It’s with God’s help he is overcoming life’s obstacles.

Website: https://www.dorseyrossshow.com/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/DROCKROSS

Welcome to 12 Minute Converse with Jesus Believers.

God chose first to have a conversation with us, his creation.

Our prayer is that this listening space brings growth and transforms your life forever.

Praise God for you Dorsey.

It's a great pleasure to connect with you.

What part of the world are you in today?

I'm in Pennsylvania.

I moved from New York to Pennsylvania back in 2020.

In the city, the most populated city, what was it like living in New York?

I was in Queen's in Long Island for a while, but it was nice.

I liked it.

For those that are listening who may be wondering immediately, why is his voice sounding like that?

Please explain the medical scenario that you've been a part of.

I was born with a birth defect called Apert Syndrome, which is a birth defect of the hands and the face.

When I was born, my forehead was pushed outward, my eyes and nose were pushed back into my head, and my fingers and toes refused to get to me.

I had no intervertebral movement of them.

I was born back in 1977, January 16th, 1977.

Back then, they didn't have the testing and the technology like they do today to determine the health of the baby and the strength of the baby and different things of that nature.

When I was born, the doctors looked me over and examined me and everything.

They said, well, we don't think he'll survive.

We don't think he's going to make it.

They gave my parents the option to put me into an institution and to let me be.

Thankfully, because of my parents' faith and belief and trust in God, they said, no, we can't do that.

We're not going to put him into an institution.

We'll take him home and we'll see what God will do with him in his life.

Were you the first born at that point?

No, I was the surprise of the family.

I was the oldest.

I mean, I was the youngest.

My parents had four other kids.

There was an age gap of 21 years between my oldest sister and myself.

My middle sister, who was still living home at the time, she was 16.

So there was quite a big age gap between the siblings in my family.

Right.

And at that point, no one had this in the family.

No.

You're the first.

Correct.

So I can still hear your New York accent in the midst of it, which is fun, right?

Which is fun.

So even though your sister was 16 years older, it meant that you ended up being in the home as the only child, I would imagine, when she went off to college, which was not too long after, right?

Right.

Correct.

Yeah.

What was life like that with just you having to navigate everything that life would carry on?

Um, well, obviously, like anything else, you know, it had its ups and downs.

You know, I had my first operation at six weeks to open the skull and to allow my brain to grow and allow it to function normally since my skull was fused together.

And usually when you're born, you're born with a hotspot to allow the brain to grow and allow the brain to function normally.

And because I did not have that, the doctors had to operate and to, you know, open the skull to allow my brain to grow and to allow it to function normally or else I would have, you know, probably eventually became brain dead and, you know, you know, eventually died at some point, you know, when I was young, when I was a baby, essentially.

And doctors, you know, didn't know much about my disability at the time.

Now, you know, a little bit more well known and, you know, people can look it up on the computer and whatnot.

But, you know, back then they didn't know much about it.

And they told my parents, hey, we don't think you'll live, you know, past the age of 18.

And, you know, but, you know, over my lifetime from six weeks to about 16, 17 years old, I had about, you know, 68 operations to reconstruct my face and to reconstruct my hand because my fingers were fused together as well.

So I had no, at the time I was born, I had no intervertebral movement of them.

And, you know, so, you know, you know, during that time, in and out of the hospital a lot, you know, my mom would come into the hospital with me and stay with me overnight and, and be with me.

You know, my dad would go off to work and, you know, he would do what he had to do for his job.

And, you know, but my parents, you know, they loved me, they cared for me.

You know, they treated me like they would anybody else.

It wasn't like they, you know, say, hey, well, you know, he has a disability, he's not gonna be able to do anything or accomplish anything in his life, you know, we'll just put him in a, in a bubble and we'll let him be.

They said, well, you know, my parents said, well, you know, we'll, we'll allow him to figure out for himself what he can and can't do.

And, you know, what he can't do, we'll, you know, we'll figure out how he, you know, will be able to do it at some point in his life.

And, you know, so there are some things that I, I'm unable to do because, because the disability is a bone structure, it affects the bones as well.

I have, you know, very limited movement in my shoulders, so I'm unable to lift my hands above my head.

And my arms are short as well, so I don't have the full, the full reach or the full, you know, stretch on my hands that, you know, somebody, like, you know, quote unquote, normal person would.

So I had to, you know, adapt that way as well.

That didn't stop you?

No, it did not stop me at all.

What did you pursue?

What did you realize was your strength?

Well, you know, I was a normal guy, you know, I tried to be as a normal guy as I could be.

I played, I was in a bowling league, I was in a baseball league.

I would go outside and play, play sports, you know, play football, play basketball, play, you know, baseball in the street, you know, like they used to back in, in the day.

Most of the kids nowadays, they don't, they don't do that.

But, you know, I was one of the, probably one of the last generations that were, that would do that, you know, go outside in the street and, and play baseball and play football and those types of, those types of sports.

And as I got older, I was part of the Special Olympics.

You know, they had in New York, they had a New York State game for the physically challenged.

So I was part of, part of that and, you know, would do the track and field events and the swimming events and different things of that, of that nature.

Were your parents sport lovers?

I don't think my mom too much.

I mean, we went to Mets games, you know, because I'm a Mets fan.

So we went to Mets games once in a while, but I don't think he was too big of a sport fan.

I know my dad was, my dad was a bigger baseball and probably football fan as well.

When did you meet Jesus?

I didn't, well, I grew up in the church, thankfully.

I grew up in the church, but I, I gave my life to Christ at the age of 13.

You're coming up on 50.

What's on the horizon for you?

Ooh, hopefully to continue my podcast, you know, that, that continues to grow and to do well and, you know, maybe start traveling again.

I did a lot of, a lot of traveling for ministry and speaking and everything.

So maybe, maybe do that again, but we'll just have to, you know, wait and see what happens.

What does ministry look like and how do people react when they see you and then hear you speak?

I mean, I always got a good, I only got a good, you know, good response, you know, when I spoke and good response from the people after, after that.

And even before the, the service, you know, they would always, you know, be happy that I was there and, you know, be welcoming and be great, you know, be gracious to me and everything.

Are your parents still alive?

No, no, unfortunately not.

My mom passed away in 2002 due to complications from a stroke and my dad passed away back in last November in 2025 due to heart complications.

If you're listening to this conversation five years from today, of course, you would have crossed over the five O, right?

The big five O, right?

What's the message you'd leave for future you?

Know that God has everything in control and don't, don't be anxious about what, you know, what's ahead, you know, but know that, you know, God has everything in his hands and he's going to lead you and he's going to guide you to what, to what he has for you.

Is there any question I could have asked that I didn't ask that would have helped you serve us better?

No, I don't think so.

That's a good review in 12 minutes, my friend.

Dorsey, a pleasure, I treasure.

Thank you for being on What Is Inspired by 12 Minute Converse.