SFN Dad To Dad 397 - Daryl Potter of Toronto, CA A TD Merchants Exec, A Prolific Author & Father of 2 Including A Daughter with CFC Syndrome

·56 min·5 clips

Daryl Potter reveals why his daughter being born healthy wouldn't have fixed the deep hunger inside him.

The episode is an interview between host David Hirsch and guest Daryl Potter, a father of two including a daughter with CFC syndrome. Daryl begins by reflecting on the universal human hunger that external circumstances cannot satisfy. He shares his background growing up in California and Canada, with a minister father who was physically capable but emotionally absent, missing Daryl's wedding. Daryl reveals he was assaulted by a pedophile at age 12, an event that led to a death and trial, and severely impacted his ability to trust and form friendships with men until his thirties. He discusses his career in banking, which started as a teller and spanned 34 years, and how he later completed a liberal arts degree. Daryl met his wife Carolyn through a church singles group, and they have been married 28 years. Their daughter Mackenzie was diagnosed at age eight with two rare conditions: cytochrome C oxidase deficiency and CFC syndrome. She was not expected to survive her teens but is now 24, nonverbal, tube-fed, has daily seizures, and has been in palliative care for 16 years. Daryl expresses fear that she might outlive him and his wife, highlighting a gap in care systems for medically fragile adults. He emphasizes the importance of not neglecting typical siblings, sharing that his son has never had a family vacation. Daryl and his wife now take separate holidays and are planning a trip to Italy with their son. He identifies communication between spouses as a major parenting challenge. Support organizations like the Darling Home for Kids and church communities have provided respite. Daryl has written books, including 'Even the Monsters' on grief and 'Something More' on enjoying life, inspired by the ancient text Ecclesiastes. He interprets its message as acknowledging the purposeful, inescapable human hunger for more. Daryl advises fathers to accept their evolving emotions, avoid self-medication, and seek supportive circles. He mentors to leave a lasting human impact, valuing legacy over tangible achievements. The episode concludes with resources for the Special Fathers Network mentoring program.

As heard by us

A father's long view of love, strain, and staying present through years of care.

This episode follows Daryl Potter, a prolific author at TD Merchant Solutions in Toronto, as he speaks with Carolyn about fatherhood and their two children, Jackson and Mackenzie.

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Why you'd press play

For when you want an honest, quiet conversation about caring for a child with complex medical needs.

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