Today, there is no cure.
Edmonton, AB -- James Stolke may not park in the handicapped spots or qualify for disability payments, but he suffers from a condition that is only now being regularly diagnosed in Canada and the United States. Two months ago, shortly after his wife gave birth to their son Conner, Stolke realized that he was one of the countless victims of PAD -- Paternal Aptitude Deficiency.

Stolke's first hint of his condition came when his wife, who is breastfeeding Conner, asked Stolke to change Conner's diaper in the middle of the night, in hopes of waking Conner up enough to encourage him to eat instead of falling back asleep within minutes, only to wake up again half an hour later wanting to nurse. Stolke recalls the incident that changed his life.

"It was really late -- well, early, I guess. Like three or four. I've stayed up that late drinking with my buddies, but tonight I was just really tired, and my wife woke me up from a sound sleep to ask me to change the diaper. I didn't see why I had to do it, since she was already awake, and I'd made it clear that I really didn't like changing diapers. The smell is really awful, and I can hardly bear it, even if it's just pee. Plus, Conner might pee on my hand or something." He pauses, then adds, "That was the moment when I realized that I was special. My wife, her friends, those other dads who change diapers without complaint... they don't have the same medical condition that I do."

Stolke's experience is not uncommon. PAD, a genetic condition residing on the Y chromosome, often manifests with increased fatigue and a sudden and insistent demand for sleep -- although such urges can often be treated by exposure to television, parties, or that one video game where the girl does the high kicks in a schoolgirl outfit. Increased olfactory acuity is also common, resulting in PAD victims being unable to change diapers because the smell is more intense to them than it is to others.

In more advanced cases of PAD, patients demonstrated cognitive and motor impairment, proving unable to remember to sterilize the milk bottles, clothe or hold the child, or do the dishes while the mother nursed the baby.

"For a long time, this medical condition was tolerated with jokes or understanding," reports Doctor Noah Carmichael of the Institute of Behavioral Studies, "but today's society has grown incredibly intolerant. Men whose spouses might have understood twenty years ago that he needed a full night's sleep for work tomorrow, while all she had to do was take care of the baby and keep the house clean and possibly make dinner... those men aren't being given the same level of care and understanding today.

"These men want to help," Carmichael finished. "They're not lazy, and they're not just coming up with excuses. They're special. They're so incredibly special."

There is currently no cure for PAD, although paid treatment options such as nannies, maids, and cooks may offer families affected by PAD a better life. For information on how to deal with PAD, or to make a donation, contact Fathers Who Can't online at http://www.fatherswhocant.org.