Susan Lucci's Grandson, Who Couldn't Stand & Walk for Years, Grew into a Ginger Boy with Her Eyes – Photos

• Susan Lucci's grandson, Brendan, couldn't walk or stand for years as he battled cerebral palsy.
• After undergoing surgeries and therapeutic interventions, Brendan's progress is immense, and he is celebrated by Susan and his mom, Liza.
• Susan and her daughter Liza proudly share Brendan's inspiring journey, aiming to raise awareness about cerebral palsy and celebrate his triumphs.

Susan Lucci's dream growing up was to be an actress, but she also knew that she wanted a family. She has since achieved these goals as she is an exceptional movie star, a mother, and a grandmother.

The "All My Children" star and her late husband, Helmut Huber, built an amazing family. They were blessed with two kids, Liza and Andreas. Susan is now a grandmother, as her daughter, Liza, and her husband, tech executive Alex Hesterberg, have four children: Royce, Brendan, Hayden, and Mason.

Now in her 70s, Susan is enjoying spending time with her family, especially her grandchildren. The picture she had as a girl had materialized, and she couldn't be happier. "I feel so blessed that we're all intact and happy. To me, it doesn't get any better," said Susan.

The actress loves the hugs, kisses, and warmth she gets from her grandkids, who run to her, calling her "Grammy! Grammy!"

One of Susan's grandsons has cerebral palsy. Cerebral palsy, a neurological condition impacting muscle movement, frequently stems from a brain injury occurring either in utero or during childbirth.

However, Liza recalled that when she was pregnant with Brendan, she had a normal pregnancy. Still, she had a troubling feeling that something was wrong. When she was 31 weeks pregnant, Liza experienced the most agonizing pain she had ever had.

She nearly lost consciousness from the pain, doubling over before rushing to the emergency room, where Brendan entered the world nine weeks premature on August 16, 2008, weighing 4 lbs. and 10 oz. Immediately, Liza's son was whisked away to the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU). Six days post-birth, he ceased breathing, requiring immediate ventilation.

Liza, who is also an actress, took Brendan home after five weeks. She ended her acting career and established her own company, Sage Spoonfuls -- a product line designed to assist parents in preparing nutritious food for their children -- enabling her to work from home and attend to her children.

Liza was excited to have Brendan home after they spent weeks in the NICU. She narrated, "It was a long road. So when he came home, we could feel his body was a little tight, and it was a little cause for concern, but I just said, 'Everything's fine. He's alive!'"

When Brendan Hesterberg hit the 10-month mark, Liza noticed that he wasn't able to sit by himself. She recalled, "I knew something was wrong, but I was in denial." Brendan also couldn't stand at 19 months, which prompted his mom to take him to a doctor. "There was just no being in denial anymore," she noted.

After an MRI scan, Brendan was diagnosed with cerebral palsy in 2010. His mom remembers freezing and breaking down in tears. She felt deep sadness that her son would have to deal with the illness all his life.

The initial years following Brendan's diagnosis were challenging, marked by muscle stiffness, pain, and an uneven gait. Liza broke the news to her son about his condition when he was in kindergarten, as Brendan couldn't understand why he was constantly tripping and falling in school.

Liza told her son that he would deal with cerebral palsy all his life but that it didn't define him. She also said that her son became an empathetic boy. When someone fell on the playground, Brendan was always the first to ask if they were okay.

News of Brendan's health condition came when Susan was competing on "Dancing With the Stars." While Susan was at work, her grandson was dealing with physical therapy each day and learning to walk with leg braces.

In 2016, Brendan underwent surgery to enable him to stand up straight. While participating in the 15th Annual Women Who Care Awards, supporting the cause of United Cerebral Palsy of New York, Susan shared that the surgery had been successful, and her grandson could now walk gracefully.

Brendan underwent a selective dorsal rhizotomy, a surgical procedure that involved cutting specific sensory nerves in the lower spinal cord, an intervention aimed at facilitating an easier walking experience for him. "For the first time, he can stand up straight. His feet are flat on the floor," Susan announced.

Now, Susan's daughter is grateful that her son can walk, unlike many others with cerebral palsy. She also admitted that she decided to speak about her son's illness because she knew it would look bad to Brendan if she tried to hide it. "I don't ever want him to feel bad about himself. I want him to feel good and proud and celebrate the way he overcomes challenges," said Liza.

Susan is proud of her daughter for speaking publicly about her son's illness. She noted that discussions about cerebral palsy can positively influence the public and demonstrate to Brendan that his family takes pride in him.

Liza and Susan are proud of Brendan. Liza wants to shout to the entire world about her son's achievements, some of which include joining the Cub Scouts in his first grade and becoming a baseball pitcher.

Susan Lucci visits SiriusXM Studios in New York City on April 5, 2019. | Source: Getty Images

She praises him when he ascends two stairs of their home unaided upon returning from school—an achievement Liza deems a monumental milestone. "I want to celebrate him and for him to celebrate himself," she revealed.

Susan also said she is happy her daughter is "raising a full total human being" who is "such a wonderful boy." The proud grandmother also praised her grandson, who has grown into a ginger teenager with brown eyes like Susan's. "He's taught me that you have to go forward and that life is a gift. He's a spectacular little boy," she gushed.

Liza Huber, Brendan Hesterberg, and Susan Lucci attend the 15th Annual Women Who Care luncheon benefiting United Cerebral Palsy of New York City at Cipriani in New York City on May 9, 2016. | Source: Getty Images

Liza Huber, Brendan Hesterberg, Royce Alexander Hesterberg, and Susan Lucci attend the UCP of NYC 70th Anniversary Celebration Gala in New York City on March 9, 2017. | Source: Getty Images

Brendan also shares his journey with cerebral palsy on his Instagram page. A year out of double foot surgery, Brendan posted a video of himself jumping over one step of stairs. He wrote, "This may seem like a tiny jump to most, but for me, it's huge 💥."

The 15-year-old also shared a video of himself running on a treadmill. He noted that before surgeries, he could never run like that. He was proud of his steps, wins, and gains, which have made him stronger and faster. "It's been a long journey, and the road is long, but I'm making progress every week," he explained.

Brendan can also now go to the gym and lift weights. He uses weight training guidelines by his therapists and feels so good that he can go to the gym with his dad, something he thought he would never do. "Never give up. Always keep pushing. We all get there in our own time 💚," he encouraged others.

Liza Huber is grateful to be a mother to Brendan and his three siblings. On Mother's Day in 2023, she shared a lovely picture on Instagram posing with her children, whom she called "wonderful humans." The mom of four and her cubs were all smiles, and Liza gushed over the gift of motherhood.