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Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsDick Hoyt, who pushed his son in 32 Boston Marathons, has died
Truly an inspiring story of devotion and courage.
https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/dick-hoyt-who-pushed-son-multiple-boston-marathons-dies-n1261397
From Wikipedia about Rick: "Rick Hoyt was diagnosed with cerebral palsy at birth after his umbilical cord became twisted around his neck, which caused the blockage of oxygen flow.[4] As a result, his brain cannot properly control his muscles.[5] Many doctors encouraged the Hoyts to institutionalize Rick, informing them that he would be nothing more than a "vegetable."[5] His parents held on to the fact that Rick's eyes would follow them around the room, giving them hope that he would somehow be able to communicate someday.[5] The Hoyts took Rick every week to Children's Hospital in Boston, where they met a doctor who encouraged the Hoyts to treat Rick like any other child. Rick's mother Judy spent hours each day teaching Rick the alphabet with sandpaper letters and posting signs on every object in the house. In a short amount of time, Rick learned the alphabet.[4]
At the age of 11, after some persistence from his parents, Rick was fitted with a computer that enabled him to communicate, and it became clear that Rick was intelligent.[6] With this communication device, Rick was also able to attend public schools for the first time.[7]
Rick went on to graduate from Boston University in 1993 with a degree in special education. He later worked at Boston College in a computer lab helping to develop systems to aid in communication and other tasks for people with disabilities.[8]"
malaise
(269,182 posts)to have his parents.
What an inspiring story. Get thee to the greatest page
Hortensis
(58,785 posts)malaise
(269,182 posts)You can't fake love, parental or fraternal
MissMillie
(38,581 posts)Watching the marathon every year, we'd look for these two in the coverage.
Such a beautiful family.
CentralMass
(15,265 posts)the opportunity to cheer on the Hoy'ts. Watching them run up heart break hill was down right inspirational. I was a runner myself and also ran into them at some other races. I bumped into Dick coming out of a supermarket in Sturbridge Ma back in the 90's and instantly recognized him and introduced myself and said hello. Nice guy and great human being.
He threw out the first pitch at Fenway the day before the 2015 Marathon, I got a picture.
One year I passed them on the course.