A miracle child was born on a bitterly cold day in December 1996. As evening approached, Brett Fein, the third of four children born to me, Joseph Fein, and my wife, Bonnie, entered the world. He arrived early—very early.

Brett was born approximately four months prematurely, at just 22 weeks, and the prognosis was grim. He weighed only 1 pound, 9 ounces at birth, and was no bigger than my hand. The North Shore University Hospital on Long Island doctors didn't give us much hope. They told us that children born before the 23rd week of gestation have very little chance of survival. Even if Brett defied the odds and survived, there was no way to predict his quality of life.

But Brett did survive. The tiny child, one of the smallest babies ever cared for in North Shore's neonatal unit, surprised everyone and began progressing. After four long months in the hospital, our miracle baby finally came home. A long road of therapy and developmental challenges lay ahead, but we were determined to help Brett live as usual and joyful a life as possible.

In 2008, Brett was 12 years old—a healthy, fun-loving child with eyes as blue as a bright spring sky who loved bouncing happily on a trampoline in our backyard. The super-preemie, who wasn't supposed to see his first birthday, was thriving. The journey had been extended, and not a day had gone by since leaving the hospital that Brett hadn't received some form of therapy—from physical therapy to speech therapy to sensory integration and special education. Brett still had many more mountains to climb, but with the help of family, friends, and a team of specialists, he continued to make progress.

Fast-forward to 2024: Brett is now 27 and still living with us. He is fun-loving and eager to engage with family and friends. He loves watching YouTube videos on the computer and feeling the sand between his toes at the beach. After a long day running through the waves, he enjoys taking a nap and listening to his music. It's the small things in life that bring him the most joy.

My wife, Bonnie, remains at the forefront of his therapy and daily planning. Brett's development has also been supported by the love and understanding of his brother and sisters and their friends, who have gone out of their way to include him in their activities.

We remain determined to help Brett live a happy, fulfilling life, so we continue to pursue appropriate therapies. Brett attends a program for adults with special needs, and he loves getting on the bus each morning to see his friends. His milestones may differ from those of a typical adult, but they are significant accomplishments for him.

As his father, the experience of Brett's birth and development and his success despite overwhelming odds inspired me to dedicate my law practice entirely to educational law, helping families secure the special care, services, and education their children need. Parents of special needs children must know that while the path they now travel may not be what they expected, they do not have to walk it alone. I am here to help you navigate this journey, so your child receives the appropriate services to achieve their fullest potential. By law, your child is entitled to a suitable education and services. My privilege and passion is to help you secure these, allowing you to focus on what matters most—your family.