If life has ever knocked you flat and left you wondering how to even start again, this story is your wake-up call.
Because some people survive tragedy.
Debbie Simmons surrendered to it — and built a legacy from it.
On this episode of Attention Is The Currency, we sat down with Debbie: faith-based speaker, nonprofit founder, coach, and mom of nine adopted children. Her story begins in heartbreak — the loss of her quadruplets — but it doesn’t end there.
TL;DR: From Pain to Purpose
- Lost all four of her babies in one day.
- Trusted God and asked a new question: “What’s my next best step?”
- Adopted nine children from foster care.
- Founded Anchor Point, a nonprofit helping thousands of families.
- Became a transformational coach helping others get unstuck and stay unstuck.
The Day Everything Fell Apart
Debbie always wanted to be a young grandma. She had the vision: fall in love, start a family, raise four kids. But after years of infertility, her miracle finally came — and it was big. Quadruplets.
Then, at 26 weeks, tragedy struck.
A premature labor. A rushed delivery. And in one night, Debbie held each of her sons—Zach, Josh, Nathan, and Chris—as they passed from her arms into eternity.
It was supposed to be the beginning. It felt like the end.
The Question That Changed Everything
In the middle of heartbreak, Debbie did what most of us do:
“I kept asking: Why? Why me? Why my babies?”
But no answer made it better. No answer brought them back.
And then, everything shifted.
“God asked me to give Him my ‘Why.’ And when I finally did, I started asking a better question: What’s my next best step?”
That question became the key that unlocked her future.
Debbie’s 5 Survival Lessons for Anyone Walking Through Pain
- Breathe.
Literally. Deep breathing calms the nervous system so you can stop reacting and start thinking. - Stop asking “Why?”
That question will keep you stuck. It seeks answers that will never satisfy. - Ask: “How do I survive today?”
Forget the big plan. Just move an inch forward. - Take the next best step.
Not the “right” step. That’s paralyzing. Just do something. - Stay connected to safe people.
Healing happens in community, not in isolation.
From Survival to Significance: The Birth of Anchor Point
Once Debbie found her way forward, she didn’t stop. She and her husband adopted nine children, mostly in sibling groups. Then came a deeper calling — to create a place where hurting families could heal and grow.
That calling became Anchor Point.
Today, Anchor Point includes:
- A medical clinic for expectant parents in crisis
- A maternity home for young women without support
- Trauma recovery, abuse recovery, and grief programs
- Parenting education, coaching, and spiritual mentorship
“Our mission is to take families from barely surviving… to thriving.”
This isn’t just a nonprofit. It’s a living, breathing testimony that your story doesn’t end in pain.
From Engineer to Entrepreneur: When Purpose Interrupts the Plan
Debbie was a mechanical engineer. She never planned to start a ministry. But sometimes purpose hijacks your resume.
“I told God I didn’t have time. I had seven kids. A full-time job. He took the job away and said, ‘Now do what I asked.’”
She did. Today, Anchor Point houses multiple organizations under one vision — helping people take ownership of their lives, one step at a time.
Coaching People Back to Life
Debbie now coaches individuals stuck in pain, transition, or uncertainty.
Her approach?
- Create a safe space
- Help you breathe
- Ask powerful questions
- Help you decide the next best step
- Walk alongside you with accountability
“I don’t want to do it for you. I want to do it with you. So you can do it for yourself one day.”
The Legacy She’s Building
Debbie’s goal isn’t to impress anyone. It’s to activate them.
“I’m wired to help people get unstuck and stay unstuck. That’s the legacy I want to leave — people who realize their pain didn’t disqualify them. It positioned them.”
Attention Is the Currency… So Stop Wasting It
We asked Debbie our signature question:
If attention is the currency, what should people stop wasting it on?
Her answer?
“Social media. You miss the people right in front of you. Invest in real, present relationships. That’s what lasts.”
Final Word
Your purpose didn’t disappear when everything fell apart.
It’s still here — waiting on the other side of surrender.
You just have to breathe, ask a better question, and take one step forward.
Ready to Take Your Next Step?
📍 Visit TheDebbieSimmons.com
📘 Read The Heart of Legacy
🎤 Book Debbie to speak at your event
🗣️ Explore coaching sessions
You don’t need clarity. You just need courage.
Breathe. Move.
That’s how legacies are built.
Listen to the full episode of Attention Is The Currency wherever you get your podcasts.
▶️ Watch or listen to the full episode now and come home to yourself:
You’ve given enough. Now it’s time to receive.
Tap in. Let go. Reclaim your pleasure-led life.
Because your attention matters. And your intention?
That’s what rewrites the legacy.