Letters to Sam : a grandfather's lessons on love, loss, and the gifts of life

When his grandson was born, Daniel Gottlieb began to write a series of heartfelt letters that he hoped Sam would read later in life.

He planned to cover all the important topics - dealing with your parents, handling bullies, falling in love, coping with death - and what motivated him was the fear that he might not live long enough to see Sam reach adulthood.

Daniel Gottlieb is a quadriplegic - the result of a near-fatal automobile accident that occurred two decades ago - and he knows enough not to take anything for granted.

Then, when Sam was only 14 months old, he was diagnosed with Pervasive Developmental Disability, a form of autism and suddenly everything changed.

Now the grandfather and grandson were bound by something more: a disability - and Daniel Gottlieb's special understanding of what that means became invaluable.