[cnn-photo-caption image= http://i2.cdn.turner.com/cnn/2009/images/04/05/realart.quinn.jpg
caption=”Quinn Bradlee, 26, started friendsofquinn.com to help families cope with learning disabilities.”]
You’d think that the only son of superstar journalists Ben Bradlee and Sally Quinn would have a silver spoon in his mouth and a gold ticket to Harvard, where three generations of Bradlee men went. But, Quinn Bradlee was born with velo-cardio-facial syndrome, or VCFS, the most common genetic syndrome after Down’s. While his father may have led “A Good Life,” as described his book, Quinn led “A Different Life,” the title of the younger Bradlee’s new book.
Bradlee was born with a hole in his heart that required intense surgery and treatment. He was kicked out of school and told he was “retarded.” But Bradlee wasn’t properly diagnosed with the little-known disorder until he was 14. Throughout his life he struggled with a host of physical ailments and learning disabilities.
Determined to find his own way and make it easy for other young people and their families dealing with learning disabilities to get information, Quinn started FriendsofQuinn.com. “If I can help a few people in life, I think I’ll be happy. I don’t know if I’d be satisfied, because I want to help everyone, but I would be happy,” he says.
Update: Watch the CNN.com Live interview
Young People Who Rock 
We have a few questions for Quinn:
What was it like growing up with VCFS?
and
Do you ever feel like people treat you differently when they learn you have VCFS?
Thanks and good luck with the website!
You are quite handsome. Downs syndrom is very noticable. What is your facial problem? I don’t see it!
Do you ever have feelings of inadequacy because of your disability, being the son of successful Harvard grad journalists? How do you deal with these feelings, and what advice (if any) would you give to others who are feeling, or are made to feel inadequate by their peers?
I have a six year old who has adhd the combined type, if possible I would like your insight on how she can manage through school because at this time she is failing because she has no focus. reply ASAP please.
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Saw you on the View this morning with your mom.Want to wish you well and compliment you on a very good interview.We can see you are loved and adored by friends and family.Best wishes for your future.JS
If Quinn is not mentally challenged, he has no excuse for his bigoted and homophobic comments he made on “Morning Joe”‘ this morning. His condition is like ”being black ….. or being gay” ? This kid is just an spoiled rich white kid. Maybe he didn’t have any friends because he is a snob with rich parents her coddle him and go out and bought him some…….
Dear Quinn,
I left a blog on friends of Quinn and just ordered your book. YOU are a true inspiration to all people and My son not only has very similar symptoms, but also resembles you in so many ways. His name is Todd, he is 19, and a senior at Bexley High School in Columbus, Ohio.
I have taken him to speech, occupational, physical and sensory integration therapy for years. His VSD has become much”less significant” as he has grown to maturaty. He is still very LD, and at this time deemed “unemployable”…I call him my PDA, because I tell him a parking space, an event, or a date and he never forgets and always reminds me. I appreciate your honesty and I can not wait to read your book. Life can provide much Happiness and it appears you have found many of its answers. Much love, luck and success to you and my dream is to see my son Todd see you and know that he is not alone in his needs and he will “make it” in this world….
Most Sincerely, Rob Banchefsky DDS
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