{"id":17034,"date":"2024-12-27T20:16:32","date_gmt":"2024-12-27T20:16:32","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/usdailys.com\/?p=17034"},"modified":"2024-12-27T20:16:32","modified_gmt":"2024-12-27T20:16:32","slug":"this-boy-is-the-son-of-hollywood-actor-who-stopped-career-after-his-birth-their-story-inspires","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/usdailys.com\/?p=17034","title":{"rendered":"This Boy Is the Son of Hollywood Actor Who Stopped Career after His Birth \u2013 Their Story Inspires"},"content":{"rendered":"

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A well-known actor shared the ups and downs of raising a child with Down syndrome. He opened up about this journey and how it took him by surprise. These challenges led him to take a break from his career, but this transformative turn brought a lot of personal growth.<\/p>\n

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In the glitz and glam of Hollywood, it is rare for fans to get a closer look into the inspiration and process of bringing a character to life. This actor, known for his memorable performances in the NBC comedy \u201cScrubs\u201d and films like \u201cOffice Space\u201d and \u201cPlatoon,\u201d has opened up about the personal challenges that inspired his on-screen characters.<\/p>\n

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However, these challenges were more than just inspirations; they were life-changing lessons and rewards that altered the trajectory of the actor’s personal and professional life.<\/p>\n

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The actor\u2019s life took a transformative turn when his\u00a0son Max was born<\/a>\u00a0in August 1997, coincidentally on the day Princess Diana died. People around him and his ex-wife Lauren Lambert, were shocked, but the parents did not understand the fuss.<\/p>\n

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The actor in the story on the show “Scrubs” | Source: Getty Images<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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But just as the world was shocked at the death of Princess Diana, the actor and the mother of his son also experienced an unexpected shift. They had anticipated the birth of a daughter but were surprised by the arrival of a son.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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\"John<\/picture><\/div>\n<\/div>\n

John C. McGinley taking pictures after a reading for children with Down syndrome at Barnes & Noble in California in 2007 | Source: Getty images<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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Twenty minutes after Max\u2019s birth, the doctors delivered more unexpected news, informing them that their newborn son was diagnosed with Down syndrome. The parents knew nothing about the condition nor had any indication that their child could be born with it.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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The prenatal visits had been completely smooth, with the only news from the blood protein test and sonogram indicating they would be having a girl. \u201cWe did not have the amnio because we were discouraged from having it since Max\u2019s mom was very healthy, and I was healthy, with no history of challenges in either of our families,\u201d the actor\u00a0explained<\/a>.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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The actor in the story in New York in 2017 | Source: Getty Images<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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The process of grappling with his son\u2019s diagnosis was a rollercoaster. Initially, he wished he could take on his son\u2019s challenges to spare him any suffering. Despite having no family history of the condition, the father was determined to educate himself about Down syndrome.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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\"The<\/picture><\/div>\n<\/div>\n

The actor in the story reading for children with Down Syndrome at Barnes Barnes & Noble in California in 2007 | Source: Getty images<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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He learned that it is the most common genetic disorder, occurring once in every 800 births\u2014a random twist of nature with no one to blame. However, the initial stages of processing this information were difficult.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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The actor found himself thinking of a Paul Simon song from the album “Graceland”: “Breakdowns come and breakdowns go, so what are you gonna do about it?” This lyric became an inspiration for action.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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The man in the story in New York in 2017 | Source: Shutterstock<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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He took a year off from acting, dedicating himself to understanding Down syndrome. Together with Lauren, he attended seminars and absorbed all the information they could find, preparing to support Max through his journey.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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