165. Delivering HOPE w/A New DS Diagnosis (ft. Rick Smith, father + advocate!)

Rick Smith is a father of three (including Noah who has Down syndrome), a blogger, an advocate, and the founder of Hope Story! Like so many of us in the DS community, his child’s diagnosis was delivered with an “I’m so sorry,” followed by the doctor offering anti-depressants to his wife. And now, 11 years later, Rick is on a mission to change what happens in the delivery room by educating medical professionals about what it means to live with Down syndrome through his non-profit, Hope Story. Today we’re chatting about dads who advocate, releasing expectations for ALL of your children, what doctors need to know, and even a few tangents about social media advocacy etiquette (trust us - you’ll relate). You can join Rick by becoming a Hope Advocate (connect with new parents + doctors in your area) with code THELUCKYFEW for a FREE Hope Kit that gives you all the tools you need. Oh and Happy Father’s Day to all you dads out there shouting the worth of your kiddos! -- SHOW NOTES Follow Rick and his family on Instagram and Facebook Check out hopestory.org Become a Hope Advocate and use promo code THE LUCKY FEW to get the Hope Kit for FREE. Follow Hope Story on Instagram and Facebook Learn more about Hope Story’s partnership with medical professionals Read Rick’s blog on noahsdad.com LET’S CHAT Email [email protected] with your questions and Good News for future episodes. HELP US SHIFT THE NARRATIVE Interested in partnering with The Lucky Few Podcast as a sponsor? Email [email protected] for more information!