BOB DENVER
Bob Denver and his wife, Dreama’s child, Colin Denver had changed their lives, when he was born in 1984. People would assume that they were rich, due to Denver’s appearance on TV, but in truth they were struggling.
When Colin was born, the financial status of the family were not good, and from a young age, Denver was sure that his son had something, as he was different from other children. As they took their child to a doctor at UCLA Medical Center, the doctor said that their son was “retarted.”
Later, Colin was diagnosed with severe autism and a seizure disorder. Colin needed to ne under constant care. So Denver stopped his acting career, and his drinking problem to care for his son.
Dreama had shared her son’s picture from her social media account, as she captioned, “For all of his 39 years, this boy has owned my heart. I wish his dad could see him now, especially the little balding spot on the crown of his head. Like me, I don’t think Bob would believe it! Happy Birthday, Colin-O! Your dad and I love you now and forever.”
Bob never get to see his son grow, as he lost his voice in 2004, and in 2005, he was diagnosed with stage IV hypopharyngeal cancer. At the end of 2005, Bob Denver lost his life.
His wife, Dreama said after his passing as, “His legacy was the love of his fans. He always said that that made him richer than any residuals could have.”
DIDI CONN
With the 1978 movie, “Grease,” Didi Conn became a huge name, and she got married for two times. Conn first married with Frakie Conn, and then she got married with David Shire.
In 1992, David and Conn had welcomed their son, Daniel, and then they started to observe some strange behaviours on their son, after his second birthday.
Conn said, “He started to have increasingly lengthy and violent tantrums, usually initiated by his extraordinary sensitivity to sound. […] He would begin to scream, hold his ears, and throw himself down on the ground.”
When the couple took their son to a pediatrician, the doctor did a routine examination and said, “He’s 2; you’ve heard of the ‘terrible 2s.'”
“Since Danny was so sensitive to sound, he began to stop responding to us as a way of protecting himself from the pain.” Conn said.
Then they took their child to Dr. Isabelle Rapin, who diagnosed Daniel with PDDNOS: Persuasive Development Disorder Not Otherwise Specified.
Daniel had a “high-functioning child on the autism spectrum.” As the doctor suggested for the child to be taken to The Therapeutic Nursery at the Jewish Community Center on the Palisades in Tenafly, New Jersey, Didi shared, “I became the Queen of Denial. I wouldn’t believe there was something ‘wrong’ with my son.”
“[…] One of the blessings of having an autistic child is that you notice every little achievement, and it becomes cause for celebration,” Didi Conn said.
Daniel was 26, when he said “I love you.” to his mother for the first time. They were talking on the phone when it happened, and Didi asked him to repeat what he said, and Daniel said that he loves his mother again.
“It was the biggest milestone, it really was. […] It really was something special to hear.”
AL ROKER
Al Roker had shared a post on his social media account, where he celebrated a milestone in his son, Nick’s life after he got accepted into the college.
At the post, Nick was giving a high-five to his mother, Deborah Roberts, and was smiling.
During an episode of “The View,” Deborah had shared how proud they were of their son, Nick, who was on the autism spectrum.
Over the years, Nick’s mother, Deborah had shared the things her son had achieved, where he received a black belt in Taekwondo, and competed in swimming.
He also had basketball and chess lessons, and trained for a marathon, but later changed his mind. In 2023, Al Roker and Nick had attended to a charity run, and shared the moments from his social media account.
“But then I remember my dad, how understanding he was. And Deborah reminds me that I have to show my son not only that I love him but that I like him as well.” Al said about sometimes he gets frustrated, but then remembers some things.
COLIN FARRELL
The famous actor Colin Farrell had welcomed his oldest son, James, with his ex, Kim Bordenave. They had their son in 2003, but Farrell was not there when James was born, as he was shooting a movie in Morrocco.
When James was four, he was diagnosed with Angelman Syndrome. It was a rare neuro-genetic disorder. The symptoms were developmental delay, speech impairment, movement or balance disorder, excessive laughter, and seizures.
Farrell stated that for himself, his son was not a person who has a disability. “The only time I’m reminded that there is something different about him – that he has some deviation of what is perceived to be normal – is when I see him with other 4-year-olds,” Farrell said.
For him, his son was just his son, a human being. James was four, when he took his first steps, which was a big milestone in his family.
For the family, it was an incredibly emotional moment. Farrell shared, “It was incredibly emotional. There wasn’t a dry eye in the house.”
Before Colin had his son’s diagnosis, he had promoted the Special Olympics, and when he saw the athletes with special needs, he was impressed and they left an effect on Ferrel. When he learned the diagnosis of his son, it was a strange coincidence.
At the gala of Angelman syndrome research in Chicago hosted by the Foundation for Angelman Syndrome Therapeutics, Ferrell stated, “The struggles of a child with special needs can be so brutal that they can tear at the very fabric of your heart, but the love shared and the pure strength and heroism observed is the needle and thread that mends all tears.”
“I remember the days when he couldn’t watch 10 minutes of a film because he couldn’t sit easy, but now he can.” Ferrell said.
TONI BRAXTON
When her youngest son, Diezel Braxton-Lewis was diagnosed with autism, Toni Braxton blamed herself, as she was raised with religious thoughts, as a child of preacher.
She wrote a book in 2014, “Unbreak My Heart: A Memoir,” and she stated that she shared that she had an abortion, which she was feeling guilty for years for it. Then after her son was diagnosed with autism, she started to think that it was a divine retribution.
“I remember when they told me that my son was autistic, I thought, ‘Okay, you had an abortion, and this is God’s way of punishing you.'” she said to Hoda Kotb.
“I often tell myself I have three kids. I have two boys, but I often have to tell myself I have two kids. But in my head, I feel like I have three kids.” She added.
She stated that the little things she observed on her son made her see that her son was different from other kids. Diezel was avoiding eye contact, and he didn’t liked the communication. He was three years old when he received his diagnosis.
“They learn differently,” Toni said about her son in 2015. She also started to appear on the non-profit Autism Speaks.
She started to use her fame to spread awareness about the struggles of the people with autism is experiencing, with all the tools she could.
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