164 Brian Martin – Father Of Twin Boys Born at 23 Weeks Weighing A Total Of 28 Ounces, The Smallest Ever To Survive & Thrive

Transcript:

Tom Couch: Special, thanks to horizon therapeutics for sponsoring today’s special father’s network, dad to dad podcast, working tirelessly to research, develop and bring forward medicines for people living with rare and rheumatic diseases. Discover more about horizon therapeutics, mission at horizon therapeutics .com

Brian Martin: tyler was actually the smallest boy in the world at that time combined weight of the two of them to this day is still the smallest set of twins in the world. You know? So the collective weight, you know, it was whatever 28 ounces or so just know that it’s a, it’s a positive world. You just have to get in it.

You know, don’t focus on an, a, it’s easy to get in the negative if you’re kind of on an island by yourself. So surround yourself with good people and good things will happen. I mean, people say that, but you got to really do it.

Tom Couch: That’s special father Brian Martin, who has two 18 year old twins when born, they were the smallest of babies.

We’ll hear about health issues. They experienced soon after birth and how they live their lives today. That’s all on this special father’s network, dad to dad podcast. Here’s your host, David.

David Hirsch: Hi, and thanks for listening to the dad to dad podcast, fathers, mentoring, fathers of children with special needs presented by the special

Tom Couch: father’s network.

The special fathers network is a dad to dad mentoring program for fathers raising children with special needs through our personalized matching process. New fathers with special needs children connect with mentor fathers in a similar situation. It’s a great way for dads to support dads, to find out more, go to 21st century dads.org.

And if

David Hirsch: you’re a dad looking for help or would like to offer help, we’d be honored to have you join our closed Facebook group. Please go to facebook.com groups and search dad to dad

Tom Couch: today. And now let’s hear this conversation between special father Brian Martin and David Hirsch.

David Hirsch: I’m thrilled to be talking today with Brian Martin of basking Ridge, New Jersey.

Who’s the father of 18 year old twins, founder and former CEO of tests, sports clubs, and football academy, and a business development executive Brian, thank you for taking the time to do a podcast interview for the special father’s network.

Brian Martin: Thank you, David. It’s great to be here.

David Hirsch: You and your wife, Melissa been married for 24 years and are the proud parents of 18 year old twin boys who at the time of their birth at 23 weeks gestation weighed just 11 ounces.

And then separately, one pound, one ounce respectively, let’s start with some background. Where did you grow up? Tell me something about your family.

Brian Martin: I grew up in west Caldwell, New Jersey. My family is, I would say, born and raised in New Jersey across the board. My father was from Montclair, New Jersey. My mother, Clifton New Jersey and my wife, Melissa is from Rutherford, New Jersey and you know, all around, I would say the MetLife giant stadium area and Northern New Jersey and just a short distance to New York city.

David Hirsch: Excellent. So when you were growing up, did you have any siblings?

Brian Martin: Yeah, I was one of five. So we had, uh, four boys, one girl, I was number four in the order and a. My, my sister was surrounded by, uh, by all boys and mostly athletes. So it was a little crazy. We had our own huddle at the house. It was a little nuts, but a very

David Hirsch: good.

And I remember you telling me something about your younger brother. What was the backstory on

Brian Martin: that? Yeah, so my brother Mike was born in 1975. Uh, he was born, um, with a number of facial issues and abnormalities. He basically had no nose or forehead battled a lot as a kid and throughout his life. And he, uh, he had a stroke when he was four years old.

He had 30 surgeries by the time he was 18. Um, and then he, uh, dad had an amazing adult life and worked very hard to get to where he was and was going to university. Um, I Caldwell university, I was just about to get his degree and I passed away when he was 36. You had a good run and inspired many.

David Hirsch: Yeah.

Well, it sounds like a very challenging road. Um, and I’m sure it’s impacted you, your siblings, your parents for that matter and what a great role model he was from what you’ve done.

Brian Martin: Absolutely. And, uh, he, uh, he was the strongest person I’ve ever met.

David Hirsch: That’s fabulous. So I’m sort of curious to know what, what did your dad do for a

Brian Martin: living?

So my dad was, um, was a teacher, was a history, social studies teacher at middle school level. He coached for awhile on the side, was an athlete his whole life. And then coach. And then he also on the side, he was an entrepreneur and he used to say he was the blind man. Um, but he put a window treatments and windows, primarily blinds.

He did very well with that and taught me a lot about like sales and entrepreneurialship, uh, and that space and whoever the company called level or level, or the rents in which became level or blinds. So that was a side business, but primarily a teacher.

David Hirsch: Okay. And I’m wondering, how would you characterize your relationship with your.

I would

Brian Martin: say it was very good. Um, athlete athletics was the center of the conversation. I would say generally, you know, not that he, he definitely didn’t push us to do things we didn’t want to do. We all wanted to do things, especially my, the three of us, um, my two older brothers and myself, and, you know, I I’d say it was the first one.

I started working out with lifting weights. You know, he, where he worked at the school he worked at, they had. Strength training area. It was called, um, it’s basically your old universal equipment in the eighties. And now they call it the iron mistress because it was like a mystery. What the weights are really work because you put it into the pin in and there was no number.

And, but he was. Superman. He could, uh, he could rack every weight, every exercise, the press overhead over chest press, shoulder, press, lap pole. He could do the whole rack on everything. So I thought he was the strongest person I ever saw. So that kind of inspired me to get into the workout training world and play sports.

And, you know, my older brothers were very good athletes, football wrestling, and then my one brother played baseball.

David Hirsch: That’s fabulous. It sounds like your dad was very physically fit. Um, when you were a young guy yourself.

Brian Martin: Yeah, he sure was. He, uh, he, he used to say he did feats of strength. He, uh, he could rip a phone book in half when he was in his fifties.

I mean, he would race, he would challenge people to races when he was 60 years old that were, you know, 18. So he was very competitive and athletic. And you played division one football at Richmond university. Yeah. So we, there was, you know, and he came from a long line of success at Montclair high school was probably the best football program, public school program in the history of New Jersey.

And he played with an individual by the name of, uh, Aubrey Lewis. And Aubrey Lewis was the player of the century in New Jersey, a hundred years. And Aubrey actually ended up being the first African-American player ever at Notre Dame, university of Notre Dame. Then went on to become the first African-American CEO for Woolworth’s first African-American in the FBI and was also, uh, on pace to be an Olympic gold medalist in the 400 meter high hurdles and had a trip and fall on the last hurdle, blood everywhere on the last one, he, he had a fall and it was unfortunate.

And then he also played in the NFL as well. So the, my dad’s claim to fame was that he started over on. Well, my dad was a senior captain. He was a sophomore and the coach was very respectful to my father. My dad’s name was nickname was red, red Martin. He had red hair, you know, he basically was the captain red and Augie was the number two guy, but he was a sophomore kind of in waiting.

So my dad would go in and get one touchdown. And then our, we would come in and score five or six. That’s kind of how it

David Hirsch: works. Yeah. Great story. Thanks for sharing. As it relates to a lessons learned or takeaways, is there anything else that comes to mind when you think about your dad?

Brian Martin: Yeah, I mean, I think there was a lot as mental toughness, overcoming objection to tough things.

He was in the army. He was based in Germany. He was a medic in the army during required time. But thank God he was to. Be in the army and do all of his training, but it was a quiet time. It wasn’t during the war. It was there in, uh, you know, mid fifties. You know, I think when my brother was born, I was challenging with all the things that happened with my brother, Mike, and, you know, coming from all athletes in a family, primarily.

My sister was in like into band and very cheerleading growing up and, you know, very active and in the same kind of social circles. So it was a big adjustment to see, and to see my dad kinda handle that and work with my mom through all that. It was a challenge, but I learned a lot, you know, and it kind of prepared me for the situation I’m in today.

And, you know, I see a lot now. You know, it’s more apparent now, but it was hard. You know, it was a hard time, you know, he was, my brother was in the hospital, probably his first two years. It was like 80% at a time and not home and running back and forth to New York city from our house. And, you know, one time a car got stolen during a blackout in New York city and, you know, just crazy stuff that my dad had to deal with and try to keep it all together with five kids and one of them in the hospital for almost two years.

And yeah, just trying to keep it all together.

David Hirsch: Yeah, well, sounds like your dad was a very resilient person in addition to being physically fit and a great role model all around. So thanks again for sharing. I’d like to switch gears and talk a little bit about your education and your career. And from what I remember, you went to the university of Delaware and, um, what type of degree did you get and, um, where did your career

Brian Martin: take you?

So I started off at university of Delaware. For a year and I did not graduate there. I transferred out. Um, but my wife graduated from Delaware. Um, I went to school for physical therapy and education, or I’m sorry, physical education. Um, I wanted to be a teacher and a coach and, and I mainly went there to play football and get a good education and things.

Weren’t going to work out from a scholarship standpoint. Second year, I thought I was going to get that. Kind of promised that to me. And, um, I ended up transferring to Bloomsburg, Pennsylvania Bloomsburg university division two school, and once a school for exercise science and physiology played football out there, uh, went to school for exercise science and physiology and had a great run there.

It was fun. And my brother had played there before me and he’s in the hall of fame out there as a running back. So Bloomsburg was a place I called home, but I still was very close with. My wife, obviously at Delaware, but I also have a lot of friends from Delaware still. And I actually, years later, I ended up working with quarterback, Joe Flacco played in the NFL out of university of Delaware.

So we have a lot of Delaware connections, but I did not graduate there. So,

David Hirsch: well, thanks for the clarification. So would it be fair to say that the best takeaway from your experience at Delaware was that you met your wife?

Brian Martin: Uh, wow. Yeah, absolutely. I mean, a hundred percent. We met actually prior to going there and, uh, we broke up in the summer and we were both, you know, busy and running all over the place.

And, you know, I was playing football. She was thinking about getting into a sorority. I made the big decision to transfer out. And, uh, we had broken up and I called her and basically said, I’m going to be transferring to Bloomsburg. And, you know, basically it was nice knowing you. And it’s great to great to spend time.

You know, I won’t be coming back to Delaware and we ended up, uh, having a, kind of a going away party at my house that night. And we’ve been together ever since. It’s over 30 years ago, it was like 1980 fall of 80. That was 89, the summer summer of 89, but we met in 88, so crazy. That’s fabulous. Absolutely the best thing out of Delaware that happened 100%.

David Hirsch: Thanks for sharing. So from a career standpoint, um, I know that you spent, uh, quite a few years with this company that you’d started test sports clubs and football academy. What was that? Experience about and what are the company do?

Brian Martin: Yeah, so it was test stands for total energy system training. My wife actually named it, um, and it was test sports clubs, which was a full service health club for, you know, everyone from general population, all ages, adults, primarily people looking to get.

To lose weight to get better. Um, and then we added a whole sports performance component. So we trained athletes to get bigger, stronger, faster, and then we added a football academy and trained to what Edwin ended up becoming over 250 NFL players. So we did all of their physical training, their speed, strength, training, um, sports psychology, and mental preparation, nutrition, physical therapy chiropractic, and built a $5 million building here in New Jersey.

And during that time too, we did consulting. I did consulting over time and over 75 facilities around the country and then years, uh, the last few years with my time with tasks, we last five years or so, we also ran finished centers for Donald’s. Um, I don’t know if you’ve ever heard him, but, um, he, uh, so Donald Trump had two golf courses here in New Jersey.

He Bedminster where he personally lived about 20 weekends a year and, uh, down in culture, neck, New Jersey, and we ran the fitness center there and supplied all the. Trainers staff massage therapists work with their teams to train all of their members to get in shape, but also golf, tennis training. And then we also had some New York jets that lived there in the summer and trained a lot of the jets right at the Trump facilities.

David Hirsch: Excellent. Well, thanks for sharing. So I’d like to switch gears and talk about special needs first on a personal level, and then perhaps beyond. I’m sort of curious to know before the twin super premature birth, did you or Melissa have any experience with the special needs community perhaps beyond your younger brother?

Brian Martin: I would say, you know, my wife, Melissa, his cousin had a cerebral palsy, so she had some experience growing up. Um, and my son has cerebral palsy now Callahan. So she had, uh, exposure to it as a kid. Um, and then my brother Mike was involved in a number of programs. You know, not just with the facial abnormalities that he was involved, but the schools that he went through, he was in all special needs classes as a kid.

So I probably met, you know, 50 to 100, there are more, you know, kids and families that were involved in the special needs community. So really was blessed to meet a lot of great people and see strong people and see how families react to it. You know, I say it all the time that I think. Those situations prepared, both Melissa and I for, you know, what we’re, what we’re dealing with today.

And, you know, we, it got us strengthened and perform are ready to perform at a high level as best we can to take care of our boys.

David Hirsch: Thanks for sharing. So, um, what’s the backstory on this, um, premature. Birth, uh, they were the smallest babies from what I remember in a prior conversation, born in New Jersey, Tyler at 11 ounces.

And Callahana one pound one ounce, uh, back in June of 2003.

Brian Martin: Yeah. So when they were born, um, that was the second pregnancy for us. So, uh, you know, it was kind of our last shot, if you will. Um, My wife’s body was having some issues happen at like 22, 23 weeks. And her blood pressure was going through a roof.

And, um, doctors basically said, you know, we have to get these kids out or your wife’s not going to make it so, had to make a decision. And, um, we got them out and, uh, Tyler was actually the smallest boy in the world at that time. Um, and the combined weight of the two of them to this day is still this small set of twins in the world.

So, not just New Jersey, as far as I know, but, you know, so the collective weight, whatever 28 ounces or so, um, so, you know, it’s, um, the combination is very, um, it’s challenging, but you know, we, uh, we went through it and you know, right now, you know, Tyler is a non-verbal as has autism and Callaghan was great for like six weeks and then got a spinal meningitis.

Came down with cerebral palsy basically. And, you know, that’s kind of what we dealt with from the beginning. And, you know, here we are, they’re 18 and you know, they’re strong and we’re blessed. Um, you know, both non-verbal and you know, Callahan’s in a wheelchair, but other than that, they’re happy. And then doing well.

Yeah.

David Hirsch: Well, thanks for sharing. I can only imagine what those really days, weeks, months, maybe years were like, It’s almost hard for me to think about a baby that would be one pound plus or minus just a couple ounces. You know, everything seems to be so small where they able to come home after sort of the 40 week, you know, what would have been their normal gestation or was there more hospitalization required?

Brian Martin: Yeah, I mean there, um, we basically, they both came home at about. Four months or so saw out on, I didn’t count the exact weeks. It was just a blur, but they were born in June. We got them home right before Thanksgiving. And then within a day or two, I think it was two days. Tyler got an infection, had to get rushed back.

And then Tyler was basically in the hospital till he was 18 months old. Um, so we were in there, you know, a year and a half plus his first birthday was at children’s hospital, Philadelphia down in Philly. And he had to be medivaced a couple of times we almost lost him on multiple occasions. Um, Yeah, there was a number of days or doctors told us, you know, this is the last day, you know, go say goodbye to him.

And, but he’s, uh, he’s resilient. He’s tough. And he just kept common. So that’s where we’re at.

David Hirsch: Yeah. X. So when you learned about challenges that were associated with their birth, what were your first reactions? Yours and Melissa’s reactions to all.

Brian Martin: Well, I mean, everything goes through your mind. I mean, it was just issued my, you know, my, my reactions personally were, you know, she going to be okay.

Are they going to be okay? Is she going to make it, you know, and then when they’re born, are they gonna make it? And, you know, I think, you know, a lot of people just gave up basically on Tyler because he was so small and then they just, he got just shocking them. And then Callaghan was like, perfect. And he was great, you know, for six weeks.

And then we left him one that we’d slept some, one of us, or both of us slept in the hospital every night for six weeks. And the one night we leave him, he got, he got an infection. They believe it might’ve been from something in the water at the hospital. You know, you leave them for one night and you come back and these goes into, it was just crazy and, uh, ends up having cerebral palsy for life.

Um, basically, you know, won’t be able to use his arms or legs and all kinds of stuff. That’s uh, so you, you know, you go through a lot, you go through why me? Why, why us, why, why them? And you go through, you know, you get upset, you get angry, you get all that, you know, but you keep going. And you just keep moving and a one, one hour at a time, one day at a time, all that good stuff, you know, it’s, it’s not easy and it’s, you know, you don’t want to relive it per se, but it’s it’s you just do what you gotta do.

That’s your life, you know?

David Hirsch: Yeah. Well maybe it’s easier now looking back on it, you know, going on 18 years, um, then you know what it was like, you know, You know, when you’re going through the experience itself,

Brian Martin: otherwise easy. I’m not going to say it was easy. I’m not, ain’t even looking back on it. It’s talking about it right now.

It’s not easy at all, but it’s just something that when you’re in it, it’s just a survival mode and you’re just. You’re in, you know, I, you know, my dad was in the army, but I refer to the foxhole terminology, like you’re in a foxhole and you just got to get out and you got to protect it. And then you got to get out and then get back in and protect a foxhole and get back out, get back into Vauxhall and protect it.

But you don’t, you know, in a way as time gets goes on and they get healthier, even though that took a very long time. You got to celebrate the little wins. And we were able to do that a little bit and figure out the little things. If it’s a smile, if it’s getting off the breathing, you know, Tyler was on a breathing tube for over two years.

I mean, he didn’t crawl or do anything for two years. And then all of a sudden. And I crossed the room and within a couple of days, Melissa, for dinner one night and he went into the wall to this day. He still has a scar at the top of his head because he went corner into the wall, full tilt. So then I knew like we had something, you know, like, but you know, it’s one of those things.

And I say to people all the time now, and you know, I’ve helped motivate. I think a lot of people want more Melissa, more than me. She’s way stronger than me, but it’s, you know, it’s. It’s our world. Right? So it’s like, you know, I’ve worked with guys who were sure. Well, MVP’s Joe flack was a super old VP. I worked with top five guys in the NFL draft, right?

Their world is to run a 40 yard dash and win a super bowl and VP for us it’s to get a smile and have a good day without any issues, you know? So those are things we had to just get through. And those were like our little mini super bowl. That’s how you got through it. And it was, that became our world.

But now even, you know, I have friends that are all complaining about their kids, trying to get into college and trying to get on the travel team and playing soccer and running all these fields. I’m like, all right. I just want to get from the bed to the kitchen without any issues, like, all right. And that’s, that’s a weird.

You know, but it’s like, so when I hear people complain about all the other stuff, it’s ridiculous. Really. I, I almost feel bad for some people because they were just so caught up in the monotony and don’t even realize what they have. You know, people say that, but like from our seat, it’s so easy to see me more than Melissa, because she sees the best in everybody.

I’m a little more cynical being a true Jersey guy and a straight shooter, you know, it is what it is.

David Hirsch: Yeah. Well, thanks for your candor. I really appreciate it. Uh, was there any meaningful advice that you and Melissa got early on? Put these things in perspective.

Brian Martin: Yeah. I mean, certainly, you know, without giving specific names or were just a lot, a little.

I call them a little big. So we’re a little big things that happen. Like, you know, we had a nurse that was one of my brother’s best friend’s wives that helped take care of my kids. And she had been around hundreds and hundreds and hundreds of kids that were premature. So she was our guide guiding light.

And then we talked to families that went through what we went through and, you know, you lean on people that have been through similar situations and you gotta be, you gotta open up a little bit and you gotta be a little, uh, Vulnerable, you know, you gotta, you gotta bring out your year. Other side, you know, for me, it was always tough.

Be tough, you know, showed a tough face, never let them see the see weakness, but I’ve learned in this situation that the more you show a little bit of not weakness, but show your vulnerable side and that you’re open to things. The more success you get fruit, not only for your kids, but for yourself and to strive and thrive in this situation.

David Hirsch: Yeah, good point. Uh, I remember one of the interviews I did, one of the parents indicated that a. That the vulnerability was a superpower and that embracing that was one of the keys to moving forward and making the most of the situation. And I don’t think that’s what most guys were thinking. Right. You know, to wear their vulnerability on their sleeve.

So again, thanks for sharing where there are some important decisions you made along the way, you know, raising these two young guys with all these different channels.

Brian Martin: I mean, I think there’s a lot, a lot of the ones. I mean, we still have ongoing discussion now that they’re 18, but you know, it’s just, who’s going to take care of them if we’re not here.

And things like that. I would say like, you know, just getting the right attorney, getting the right people set up, but decisions along the way. I think a lot of it was just. Having some faith and leaning on each other and people that we trusted getting great referrals and making decisions based and doing the best we could and being okay with it, you know, that the chips are gonna fall where they may a little bit give them all we could for therapies, you know, both, you know, every kind of therapy without getting too deep, but from speech to occupational to stretch therapy, to, you know, probably work with.

I don’t even know hundreds of resources over the years and all those decisions were important. You know, some, some are great. Some are neutral, you know, some maybe not so great, but overall we’ve been very fortunate and we’ve gone into a great found the right school system. And in basking Ridge, New Jersey, it’s kind of world-renowned for autism and.

We’re in another grade school system here in Livingston, New Jersey with the pillar school, my other son. And, you know, we just made really good decisions based on indigenous knowledge from others.

David Hirsch: Thanks for sharing. I think it underscores the importance of networking. Doesn’t sound like the right word, but sort of to capture the message that you just shared as to yeah.

Communicate with others who have been there and done that a hundred percent. No, not try to figure it all out.

Brian Martin: We’re part of a group called pec parents who are exceptional children coming up on like 11 or 12 years now. So. You know, we’ve, you know, we have a group of people that, you know, we’re doing everything, all fun stuff and creative stuff from special needs, baseball, you know, soccer to all kinds of things.

But we also have done functions together and communicate. So the moms will get together for coffee. The dads get together to do bonfire, you know, things like that. But just to kick things around and lean on each other, like you said, networking is important.

David Hirsch: Not to focus on the negative, but in addition to being nonverbal, like you’d mentioned, have there been any other serious challenges that you’ve faced?

Brian Martin: I mean, a couple of years ago, my son Cali and I had to get a spinal fusion surgery, and then you had to get all kinds of screws put in and spinal fusion, and then he got a bad, a bad infection. So major challenges there. And you know, all the old memories came back quick. When he was about 16 years old, 15, 16, and on and off over a two-year period, we had to go back and forth on that.

And you know, so those have been challenges. I mean, there’s always, there’s been a bunch, but I would say, you know, 80% of it’s been pretty good.

David Hirsch: Okay. I’m thinking about advice now. And I’m wondering if there’s any advice up and above what we’ve discussed that you might share with a dad who might be listening,

Brian Martin: lean on others.

Don’t be shy. Don’t be afraid to open up and come through the front door and just let it go pick your spots and go, I mean, and lean on people like myself. I mean, you know, I think we got a lot to say, you know, in the right spots, but. You know, I wish I could do more with it. And, you know, I’m, I’m looking forward to doing more with twenty-first century dad’s foundation and whatever I can do to help.

And, you know, time is limited sometimes, but, you know, I think there’s a big need. So lean on people and expand your network and especially young fathers and mothers, but you know, those early years are formidable. Um, but not only for the kids, but for your.

David Hirsch: Words of wisdom. Thank you. Let’s give a special shout out to Ray Kessel of the sports philanthropy network for helping connect us.

Brian Martin: Yes. Thank you, Roy. Your demand. Definitely a he’s been great and I really appreciate him putting us together and he’s doing amazing things there.

David Hirsch: Is there anything else you’d like to say before?

Brian Martin: No, I think, you know, we’ve covered a lot here. And, um, I think what you’re doing is amazing. I think, you know, getting these young fathers to really embrace it, but I think everybody, I think just lean on people and, and utilize the network.

I think what you’re doing on a weekly, monthly basis, people need to take advantage of it, listen to the podcast in your own time and be involved and just know that it’s a, it’s a positive world. You just have. Get in it, you know, don’t focus on an, a, it’s easy to get in a negative if you’re kind of on an island by yourself.

So surround yourself with good people and good things will happen. I mean, people say that, but you got to really do it.

David Hirsch: Great advice. Thank you. If somebody wants to learn more about the parents of exceptional children or contact you, how would they go about doing that?

Brian Martin: I would say the best way would be to go to my Instagram.

Probably send me a direct message. It’s be Martin sport. Um, and then I can kind of direct it from there cause it’s kind of a local town here, but I’m also in the process. I just set up a 5 0 1. Um, myself and a friend of mine, Doug Rob, um, we, he has a son, two boys with autism as well. We set up a new foundation called a seat at the table foundation.

So we’re going to be launching that. Um, it’s all formed as a 5 0 1 C. We’re going to be bringing professional athletes into some events. Neville Hewitt is one to play for the New York jets as an example, but we’re going to be doing different fundraising events to help kids that are transitioning from.

Being children to adults in that transition periods from 18 to 25 and up to really help them transition into adulthood and get jobs and have good therapies and do some unique things and, um, get out in the community. Um, and it’s called a seat at the table foundation because we believe truly that everyone believes that seat at the table, regardless that they can walk or talk.

Um, so that’s, uh, everybody deserves a seat at the table. So come on up.

David Hirsch: Brian, thank you for your time. In many insights as reminder, Brian has just one of the dads. Who’s part of the special fathers network, a mentoring program for fathers raising a child with special needs. If you’d like to be a mentor father or are seeking advice from a mentor father with a similar situation on your own, please go to 21st century dads dot.

Thank you for listening to let us episode of the special fathers network data, dad podcast. I hope you enjoyed the conversation as much as I did, as you probably know, the 21st century dads foundation as a 5 0 1 C3 not-for-profit organization, which means we need your help to keep our content tree to all concerned.

Please consider making a tax deductible contribution. I would really appreciate your support, Brian. Thanks.

Brian Martin: David. Thank you so much. Truly appreciate it. You’re doing amazing things. Thank you. And

Tom Couch: thank you for listening to the dad to dad podcast presented by the special father’s network. The special father’s network is a dad to dad mentoring program for fathers raising children with special needs.

Through our personalized matching process, new fathers with special needs children connect with mentor fathers in a similar situation. It’s a great way for fathers to support fathers go to 21st century dads.org. And

David Hirsch: if you’re a dad looking for help, or we’d like to have. We would be honored to have you join our closed Facebook group.

Please go to facebook.com groups and search dad to dad also, please be sure to register for the special father’s network biweekly zoom calls held on the first and third Tuesdays of every month. Lastly, we’re always looking to share interesting stories. If you’d like to share your story or know of a compelling story, please send an email to @21stcenturydads.org

Tom Couch: The dad to dad podcast was produced by couch. Audio for the special father’s name. Thanks again to horizon therapeutics who believe that science and compassion must work together to transform lives. That’s why they work tirelessly to research, develop and bring forward medicines for people living with rare and rheumatic diseases.

Discover more about horizon therapeutics at horizontherapeutics.com.