To see Nick process down the center aisle at the beginning of the service, carrying the cross, his eyes on the altar, our pastor and the other ministers following behind, the organist pulling out all the stops, the choir and congregation singing their hearts out, the other acolytes following his lead as the principal cross bearer.
Yes, Al Roker has a son with special needs. He cried easily, laughed hard and hugged and kissed us kids a lot.
Last year, he went on a mission trip to Haiti with teens from church, helping out at an orphanage, reading to the kids, playing games with them, doing chores. Nick never got that message. Nick’s sister Leila is at college, and his oldest sister, Courtney, is grown. Dad’s hugs and kisses said as much.
Truth be told, Deborah is really the spiritual shepherd of our family flock. I tend to bolt after church to do grocery shopping while Deb mingles with our congregation. “You must be proud of your son,” someone will say. Until then I have to make sure we get to church on time—no matter what. Turned out that all those repetitive drills were just the thing for Nick. Children can test your patience. That drive up and back is some of the best time we have one-on-one. As of 2019, he is 65 years old and his horoscope is Leo.
Even an even-tempered guy like me can raise his voice. It’s not something Deborah or I would have expected. More than that, I admire him. Focus and conversation can be a problem for my son, more so than most kids, as he is a kid with special needs. But I always knew I was loved. Caption: Al Roker with his children Al Roker’s Quick Facts. For more hope and inspiration, follow us on Instagram: @guidepostsmagazine.
But I was determined we would make it. Where his OCD nature can be a drawback in some situations, it was a strength here. Nick watched and wanted to join them. The Today show weatherman and co-host shares the joys and lessons he's learned from his son, Nick.
He too was an answer to prayer—like all children—but we knew right from the beginning that he would be up against a whole different set of challenges. By closing this banner or continuing to browse this website, you agree to the use of cookies. I remember going off to college, to SUNY Oswego, in upstate New York, getting my first taste of freedom. We ended up doing in vitro fertilization, and after a few attempts, we welcomed Leila into this world. Al Roker, whose actual name is Albert Lincoln Roker Jr. is a television personality, actor, and author and weather forecaster of American nationality known best for his weather anchoring in NBC’s Today.
Those qualities that you might think would hold him back are exactly the ones that drive him forward. On Sundays when I was feeling really down about Nick—wondering where our son would find his place in this world—I found it a comfort to note that some of the acolytes also had special needs. The only thing that could do that was the power and grace of God.”. He takes chess lessons a couple times a week, and he does okay. One performed his duties in a wheelchair; another had Down syndrome.