Dick Hoyt - Devoted: The Story of a Fathers Love for His Son
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- Book:Devoted: The Story of a Fathers Love for His Son
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Devoted: The Story of a Fathers Love for His Son: summary, description and annotation
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The remarkable story of a fathers devotion to his wheelchair-bound son and how their bond inspired millions of people worldwide.
Born a spastic quadraplegic, Rick Hoyt was written off by numerous doctors. They advised his parents, Dick and Judy, to put their firstborn son in an institution. But Ricks parents refused. Determined to give their son every opportunity that normal kids had, they made sure to include Rick in everything they did, especially with their other two sons, Rob and Russ.
But home was one thing, the world at large, another. Repeatedly rebuffed by school administrators who resisted their attempts to enroll Rick in school, Ricks mother worked tirelessly to help pass a landmark bill, Chapter 766, the first special-education reform law in the country. As a result, Rick and other physically disabled kids were able to attend public school in Massachusetts.
But how would Rick communicate when he couldnt talk? To overcome this daunting obstacle, Dick and Judy worked with Dr. William Crochetiere, then chairman of the engineering department at Tufts University, and several enterprising graduate students, including Rick Foulds, to create the Tufts Interactive Communication device (TCI). In the Hoyt household, it became known as the Hope machine as it enabled Rick to create sentences by pressing his head against a metal bar. For the first time ever, Rick was able to communicate.
Then one day Rick asked his dad to enter a charity race, but there was a twist. Rick wanted to run too. Dick had never run a race before, but more challenging still, he would have to push his sons wheelchair at the same time. But once again, the Hoyts were determined to overcome whatever obstacle was put in their way.
Now, over one thousand races later, including numerous marathons and triathlons, Dick Hoyt continues to push Ricks wheelchair. Affectionately known worldwide as Team Hoyt, they are as devoted as ever, continuing to inspire millions and embodying their trademark motto of Yes, you can.
Born a spastic quadraplegic, Rick Hoyt was written off by numerous doctors. They advised his parents, Dick and Judy, to put their firstborn son in an institution. But Ricks parents refused. Determined to give their son every opportunity that normal kids had, they made sure to include Rick in everything they did, especially with their other two sons, Rob and Russ.
But home was one thing, the world at large, another. Repeatedly rebuffed by school administrators who resisted their attempts to enroll Rick in school, Ricks mother worked tirelessly to help pass a landmark bill, Chapter 766, the first special-education reform law in the country. As a result, Rick and other physically disabled kids were able to attend public school in Massachusetts.
But how would Rick communicate when he couldnt talk? To overcome this daunting obstacle, Dick and Judy worked with Dr. William Crochetiere, then chairman of the engineering department at Tufts University, and several enterprising graduate students, including Rick Foulds, to create the Tufts Interactive Communication device (TCI). In the Hoyt household, it became known as the Hope machine as it enabled Rick to create sentences by pressing his head against a metal bar. For the first time ever, Rick was able to communicate.
Then one day Rick asked his dad to enter a charity race, but there was a twist. Rick wanted to run too. Dick had never run a race before, but more challenging still, he would have to push his sons wheelchair at the same time. But once again, the Hoyts were determined to overcome whatever obstacle was put in their way.
Now, over one thousand races later, including numerous marathons and triathlons, Dick Hoyt continues to push Ricks wheelchair. Affectionately known worldwide as Team Hoyt, they are as devoted as ever, continuing to inspire millions and embodying their trademark motto of Yes, you can.
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Table of Contents
I would like to dedicate this book to my mother and father,
who have always supported us. They are the ones who provided me with a strong heart and body that enabled us to compete at a level beyond my own expectations and explanation.
I also dedicate the book to Judy, Ricks mother,
who fought bravely and tirelessly to assure Rick an education, one that truly enabled him to be included in all daily activities.
And to my sons Rob and Russ,
who selflessly accepted the fact that Ricks requirements created hardships on them at times, and frequently denied them the attention they deserved. I am very proud of who they are and what they have become.
Also to Kathy Boyer,
my girlfriend and office manager, who has spent many hours researching material for this book as well as proofing, editing, and rewriting to make sure the story being told is accurate.
First and foremost, however, I dedicate this book to my son Rick.
If it were not for his inner strength and determination, there would be no book. He is the one who inspires and motivates me. He is the heart and soul of Team Hoyt.
Dick Hoyt
To Jeanette:
Thanks for inspiring me to be a great father... and for giving me that opportunity! I hope I am as successful with our two as Dick has been with Rick.
Don Yaeger
Acknowledgments
Devoted has taken more than two years to complete, including countless hours of interviews, compiling information, writing, and editing. We hope the book will inspire and motivate people around the world. I especially wish to thank the following for all their help and support:
New York Times bestselling author Don Yaeger, and Jessica Pitchford, a Ph. D. candidate in Florida State Universitys Creative Writing Program, who spent many, many hours making this such a wonderful book. Also, Jenny Fernandez and Lauren Held for keeping the project organized and on schedule.
This book would not have happened without the team at Da Capo Press, most notably editor Kevin Hanover. They believed in this story from the start and have made it possible to share our story with readers. Thanks again to all of you for your help!
All the doctors, nurses, and therapists from Childrens Hospital Boston, and the engineers from Tufts University who built Rick his first communication machinethe Tufts Interactive Communicator (TIC).
All of our family, friends, and neighbors who have supported us through the years.
Mike Giallongo and XREthe company in Littleton, Massachusetts, that was our first sponsor. XRE built our first bike so we could start competing in triathlons. Mike was also the first president of the Hoyt Fund.
Eddie Burkea great supporter of Team Hoyt and the Race Director of our Annual Team Hoyt Road Race.
Dave McGillivraythe first person to suggest we compete in triathlons. Dave also convinced the Ironman organization to allow us to compete in the Ironman Triathlon World Championship.
All of Ricks Personal Care Assistants (PCAs) whom he has worked with over the years. If it was not for them, Rick would never have been able to live an independent life.
Pete Wisnewskithe first person to approach and encourage me and Rick at our first race. He became a lifelong friend.
John Costellothe Director of the Augmentative Communication Program at Childrens Hospital Boston. John has worked with Rick since 1986, and because of his support Rick has the excellent communication system that has enabled him to express his thoughts to the world.
Prologue
Internet Sensation
I had heard the phrase Internet sensation before but never truly understood the meaning. Now I do. No one would ever mistake me for a computer whiz; I barely know how to check e-mail. My grandkids talk about online networking and chatting and blogs, tech-speak way beyond my comprehension. These days, though, you cant turn on the television or listen to the news without a mention of how the Internet is changing our lives. And lately, the lives being changed are those of average people whose stories somehow inspire hope. I never imagined that our story would be one of them.
My eldest son, Rick, had been wheelchair-bound for over a decade the first time he asked me to put on a pair of running shoes and push him in a race. The year was 1977. I was thirty-seven years old and hadnt seriously exercised since high school. I jogged a couple times a week and played on a pickup hockey team when I had time, but other than that, I just worked for the National Guard and tried to spend as much time with my family as possible. My first race with Rick was exhilarating, but extremely difficult. We didnt come in last, but by the time we finally crossed the finish line, I was huffing and puffing. Muscles hurt that I didnt even know I had. When we got home, all I wanted to do was relax, but Rick went straight to his communication device, called a Tufts Interactive Communication Device, or TIC, and told me how much he had loved the experience. I knew right then we had discovered something special for the two of us to share. Dick and Rick became a father-son teamTeam Hoyt. From that day forward, each race weve run together has only strengthened our bond.
By the time the average household was equipped with Internet access, wed been racing for twenty-five yearsso long that many people had already heard our story. Though our fans were limited mostly to the running world, wed done interviews both locally and nationally. Rosie ODonnell interviewed us for her talk show, and Parade magazine had done a little piece about us. A Sports Illustrated article on Fathers Day, 2005, really took the cake, though. That article had more impact than any other article ever written about us. Rick Reillys words really capture the love that my son and I have for each other and the hard work it took for us to get where we are today. But still, I always considered Team Hoyt a novelty item. Only certain groupsgenerally those who could relate to Ricks disability and what we went through with him as a familycould truly appreciate us. That was, until September 2006, when an online video changed our lives.
I was preparing myself for the Hawaii Ironman Triathlon and had just finished up a long day of training. I came home expecting to relax and rest up for another day of running, swimming, and biking, but as soon as I walked in the door, Kathy Boyer, my girlfriend and the manager of my business, called to me from the office we have set up in my home (I do corporate motivational speaking). She said I needed to see something.
I found her, sitting at the computer and staring at a screen full of e-mails. I knew shed been a little stressed, managing the office work and preparing for our Hawaii trip only weeks away, but I couldnt imagine what could have her this frazzled. A glitch in our schedule? Trouble packing Ricks equipment? I was way off! Turned out she was receiving so many e-mails that her inbox was completely full, and she didnt know how to begin to respond. Kathy is great at her jobone of the most organized people Ive ever met. I know how important it is to her that she answer all the messages that come in, as quickly as possible. Every time I turn around, she said, there are fifteen or twenty more. They just keep coming. It had gotten so bad, she told me, that shed had to shut off her speakers so her computer would quit announcing the arrival of new mail. Even I knew this was unusual.
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