General Hospital (GH) spoilers reveal that Ned Quartermaine (Wally Kurth) and Olivia Quartermaine (Lisa LoCicero) have encountered challenges leading up to their son Leo’s (Easton Rocket Sweda) autism diagnosis. This week the parents were told their son is on the autism spectrum and we expect even more informative and sensitive storylines to emerge from this plot.
Now it turns out that two of the actors involved in the story have real life connections to their reel life counterparts.
General Hospital spoilers: Wally Kurth Speaks Out
Kurth’s son Brogan George was born in 2004 and has been diagnosed with autism. During an online conversation with fans the actor posted, “As a parent of a son with ASD, I always say ‘it’s a journey. Its unexpected twists and turns have made me a better father, a better man. I wouldn’t trade it.”
Fans have watched as Ned tried to convince a reluctant and at times openly hostile Olivia to have their son seen by a doctor. At first Olivia believed that Dr. Austin Gatlin-Holt’s (Roger Howarth) suggestion to have the boy seen was a way of getting back at the Q’s.
GH spoilers: Easton Rocket Sweda Speaks Out
Leo’s portrayer, Easton Rocket Sweda, posted a video on Twitter, with the caption, “[Leo] got diagnosed with Autism, but you know what’s cool? I have Autism too.” He posted the same day that Leo was diagnosed and in the video he shared that he didn’t speak until he was four years old, “Now look at me.”
He added, “I have a cool life. Kids with Autism are cool.” He told others with autism, “You’ll have a good life too.”
General Hospital spoilers: What Happens Next Port Charles, New York?
So where does this reel life story go from here? We hope that the show continues to portray Leo’s story with sensitivity and realism, as it has done so far. Up to this point the story has focused on his parents and their journey grappling with their son’s life. Now it’s time to portray Leo’s life as he continues to grow and learn.
At the same time Ned and Olivia will probably have plenty of drama ahead as they are Quartermaine’s after all. Olivia has a hair trigger emotionality about her and oddly Ned has been relatively quiet and calm recently. Maybe it’s time for him to jump back into the shark infested waters of ELQ?
Kudos to Wally, Easton and GH for giving fans a story full of meaning and substance, one that obviously resonated with viewers.
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