Tay-Sachs Disease: A Father's Story of Diagnosis, Parenting, and Purpose

In this episode of Inside the Children's Hospital, Katie Taylor sits down with Dr. Matt Goldstein—physician, biotech leader, and father—who shares the story of his daughter, Havi, and her diagnosis with Tay-Sachs disease. Despite both parents undergoing genetic screening before starting their family, a testing error led to a missed diagnosis. Javi appeared to develop typically at first, but over time, subtle changes led to a life-altering realization: she had a rare, fatal neurodegenerative condition. As a physician, Matt was trained to solve problems. As a parent, he was driven to protect his child. But in the face of a disease with no cure, he and his wife had to redefine what "doing everything" truly meant. From navigating complex medical decisions to choosing presence over intervention, Matt shares how their family embraced a different path—one centered on love, connection, and living fully in the time they had. This conversation is a powerful reflection on grief, meaning, and the transformative impact of parenthood. You'll hear: What it was like to receive a Tay-Sachs diagnosis after reassuring genetic testing How a medical error changed the course of their family's life The emotional tension between medical training and parental instinct What it means to "do everything" in a non-medical way How Havi communicated joy, preferences, and personality without words The role of community and parent-to-parent connection during grief How the family created meaningful traditions, including weekly "Shabirthdays" The impact of loss on identity, purpose, and career direction What You'll Learn in This Episode: What Tay-Sachs disease is and how it affects the body The limitations—and importance—of genetic screening Why preventive genetics is one of the most powerful tools in modern medicine How families can approach decision-making when facing life-limiting diagnoses The importance of redefining quality of life beyond clinical outcomes How grief and love can coexist—and shape the way we live Resources Mentioned E-motion- Non-profit organization created by Myra that supports bereaved mothers JScreen (Genetic Testing & Education) 57 Fridays (memoir by Myra Sack) Emory University's JScreen Program National Tay-Sachs & Allied Diseases Association (NTSAD ) Connect with Us

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Tay-Sachs Disease: A Father's Story of Diagnosis, Parenting, and Purpose is an episode from Child Life On Call: Parents of children with an illness or medical condition share their stories with a child life specialist by Child Life On Call®.

This episode is 51:54 long.

This episode was published on May 13, 2026.

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