Over the years, I have interviewed Susan Lucci ("All My Children" and "Devious Maids") dozens of times. Interviews with Lucci, when you could nab one, were fine. She was polite, acted as if she knew who you were and gave PC answers that always sounded scripted. She wouldn't talk about her family: Her son, Andreas, daughter, Liza, husband, Helmut, were never in the script. The only thing we knew was that Helmut Huber was a restaurateur, Andreas wanted to be a professional golfer and Liza was an actress who appeared on "Passions."

But Lucci has gone off script to talk about her daughter's son, Brendan. Born nine weeks early in 2008, he weighed in at less than 4 pounds. At the time, Lucci was competing in "Dancing With the Stars." Lucci is the ultimate "show must go on" professional.

During the week she learned her dance and flew home to be with her family. Liza told People Magazine, "When my mother was on, we would roll Brendan into the room so we could watch as a family." Lucci almost won the mirror ball. When she was eliminated, Liza admits she was happy, on one level. "We needed her at home."

After nearly two months Brendan was released from the hospital.

When the toddler was 2-years-old he was diagnosed with cerebral palsy.

Cerebral palsy does not go away. The exact reason that one contracts the condition is not known. Premature birth is considered a mitigating factor. Medicos think that an early birth may slow down motor skills and brain development.

Lucci never talked about this. She felt it was up to her daughter and not her. Late last year, Liza thought it was time to talk about it. The reasons were myriad. She wanted her grandson to know how proud she is of him. According to Lucci, he is a fighter. He is inspiring. It made Liza decide she that she wanted to be a voice for families who deal with CP. "Everyone thinks that because you are well known, you do not have things to deal with."

She considers her children as gifts, saying she has four wonderful gifts. Two more were born after Brendan.

She is thankful for the way her son and family deal with the issue. His siblings are loving, protective and, yes, even roughhouse with their brother, just like any siblings.

Brendan's regimen includes daily physical therapy and wearing leg braces to try and loosen up his legs.

According to Lucci, her other grandchildren help him take off his braces so he can jump on the trampoline with them.

The little trooper is a Cub Scout and pitches on his baseball team.

To find out more about Lynda Hirsch and read features by other Creators Syndicate writers and cartoonists, visit the Creators Syndicate web page at www.creators.com.

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