Our guest this week is Al Freedman of West Chester, PA a Psychologist who specializes in counseling families touched by rare disease and disability. Al is a divorced father of two adult children; Cara (21) and Jack (26), who had Spinal Muscular Atrophy (SMA), a rare neuromuscular disorder, leaving him wheel chair and ventilator dependent.

David Hirsch recorded this interview with Al in August, 2021, but ivery sadly, Jack passed away in October at age 26.

So, David spoke again with Al this week to have Al reflect on the impact Jack had on him, those he met and beyond. We’ll hear the original conversation then we’ll hear the follow-up, recorded just a few days ago, on March 23rd 2022.

Jack Freedman has shined a positive light on everyone he met. We’ll hear about that light and we’ll feel that light in this Special Fathers Network Dad to Dad Podcast.

Show Links:

Cure SMA - https://www.curesma.org

The Muscular Dystrophy Association - https://www.mda.org

Make A Wish Foundation - https://wish.org

The DuPont Hospital for Children now known as The Children's Hospital of Wilmington
https://www.nemours.org/locations/wilmington-ai-dupont-childrens-hospital.html

Freedman Counseling Associates - https://www.freedmancounseling.com

Al's email: Al@LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/albertfreedman/

Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/albert.freedman1

Special Fathers Network -
SFN is a dad to dad mentoring program for fathers raising children with special needs. Many of the 500+ SFN Mentor Fathers, who are raising kids with special needs, have said: "I wish there was something like this when we first received our child's diagnosis. I felt so isolated. There was no one within my family, at work, at church or within my friend group who understood or could relate to what I was going through."

SFN Mentor Fathers share their experiences with younger dads closer to the beginning of their journey raising a child with the same or similar special needs. The SFN Mentor Fathers do NOT offer legal or medical advice, that is what lawyers and doctors do. They simply share their experiences and how they have made the most of challenging situations.

Special Fathers Network: https://21stcenturydads.org/about-the-special-fathers-network/

Check out the 21CD YouTube Channel with dozens of videos on topics relevant to dads raising children with special needs - https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCzDFCvQimWNEb158ll6Q4cA

Please support the SFN. Click here to donate: https://21stcenturydads.org/donate/