#390 Prince, Mayte Garcia, and Their Son Amiir’s Pfeiffer Syndrome Type 2 Story

In this special episode of DNA Today, Kira Dineen sits down with Mayte Garcia — artist, author, internationally acclaimed dancer, actress, singer, choreographer, philanthropist, and the former wife of Prince — for a deeply personal conversation about love, loss, legacy, and the rare genetic condition Pfeiffer syndrome type 2. You may know Prince as one of the most influential musicians of all time, but in this episode, we step beyond the public image and into a far more intimate story: Prince and Mayte as expectant parents, the profound love they shared for their son Amiir, and the devastating medical journey that followed after his birth. Mayte reflects on pregnancy, the bond she and Prince formed with Amiir before he was born, the difficult decisions they faced, and what it meant to navigate a rare diagnosis in the 1990s before information was as accessible as it is today.  Kira also provides helpful context on Pfeiffer syndrome, including its genetics, symptoms, and why Amiir’s diagnosis of the severe type 2 form carried such serious medical challenges. This conversation also explores grief — both private and public — as Mayte shares what it was like to mourn Amiir while under the intense pressure of public life. She offers moving insight for parents who feel pressure to hide their pain, and reflects on how writing her memoir, The Most Beautiful: My Life with Prince, became part of her healing. The episode closes on legacy: not only Prince’s legacy as a global music icon, but his humanitarian spirit and the work that continues through Live 4 Love Charities, the nonprofit founded in memory of Amiir and rooted in Prince’s philanthropic vision. This month marks 10 years since Prince passed away, and also 30 years since their son Amiir died. Mayte is honoring them both through a special Live 4 Love Charities Glam Slam Benefit in Los Angeles on April 21st, 2026. We Discuss: Prince and Mayte’s bond with Amiir during pregnancy Why they declined amniocentesis during the pregnancy What Pfeiffer syndrome type 2 is and how it differs from other forms The genetics of Pfeiffer syndrome, including FGFR2 and de novo variants The medical complexity of Amiir’s care after birth Prince as a father behind the public persona Grief, public image, and the pressure to “perform” wellness Mayte’s memoir and why she chose to tell this story The legacy of Amiir Prince’s humanitarian legacy beyond music Mayte’s leadership of Live 4 Love Charities The upcoming Glam Slam Benefit on April 21st honoring Prince’s life and impact About Mayte Garcia Mayte Garcia is a Puerto Rican dancer, choreographer, actress, singer, author, and philanthropist. A professional belly dancer since age three, she became internationally known as Prince’s muse, collaborator, featured dancer for the New Power Generation, and later his first wife. She is the author of the memoir The Most Beautiful: My Life with Prince. Mayte has appeared in numerous film and television projects, including Hollywood Exes, Army Wives, Psych, The Closer, and Nip/Tuck. She now leads Live 4 Love Charities, continuing a mission rooted in compassion, service, creative empowerment, and honoring the legacy of both Prince and their son, Amiir, who died from a genetic condition called Pfeiffer Syndrome.  Resources & Links Mayte Garcia’s memoir: The Most Beautiful: My Life with Prince Live 4 Love Charities Love In Action Program Stillborn And Infant Loss Support (S.A.I.L.S.), receipt of a $10,000 donation from the Love in Action Program. You can watch Mayte Garcia call the program to break the good news here.  Live 4 Music Program Live for Dance Program  Glam Slam Benefit Tickets Pfeiffer Syndrome: MedlinePlus’ Page  NORD Page Born A Hero, Research Foundation for all FGFR conditions    Relevant DNA Today Podcast Episode: #281 Tay-Sachs with Dr. Matthew Goldstein (regarding his late daughter Havi) #315 Preventing Sudden Cardiac Death via Genetics with Drs. Liebman & McNally (regarding Dr. Leibman’s late niece)    Upcoming Live 4 Love Charities Event on April 21st On April 21, 2026, Live 4 Love Charities will host its Glam Slam Benefit at the W Hollywood, an evening dedicated to celebrating Prince’s lasting cultural and philanthropic legacy. The event will feature performances by Paisley Park alumni, joined by the Mpls All Star Band made up of former Paisley Park musicians, with additional special guests including Taylor Dayne, Sheila E, and more to be announced. Now led by Mayte Garcia, Live 4 Love Charities continues the mission Prince began: uplifting communities through compassion, creative empowerment, youth development, arts education, and healing. Through programs like Live 4 Dance and Live 4 Music, the organization helps mentor and empower the next generation of young artists. You can get tickets for their Grand Slam Benefit here.  Learn more about the charity and the Glam Slam Benefit here: https://live4lovecharities.org/   Connect With Us:  Luckily you don’t have to wait long for a brand-new episode of DNA Today, we drop episodes every Friday! Until then, why not dive into our library of over 390 episodes? Binge them all on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, our website, or wherever you love to listen, just search “DNA Today.” Prefer watching? We’ve got you covered! For the past four years, we’ve been recording episodes with video, including some filmed at the iconic NBC Universal Stamford Studios. Check them out on our YouTube channel!  DNA Today is hosted and produced by Kira Dineen, MS, LCGC, CG(ASCP)CM . Our Social Media Lead Liv Davidson. And our logo Graphic Designer is Ashlyn Enokian, MS, CGC. See what else we are up to on Instagram, X (Twitter), BluSky, Threads, LinkedIn, Facebook, YouTube and our website, DNAToday.com. Questions/inquiries can be sent to [email protected].