A team motivated by love in 'Devoted: The Story of a Father's Love for His Son'

"DEVOTED: The Story of a Father's Love for His Son," by Dick Hoyt with Don Yaeger, Da Capo, 203 pages, $22.95 (nf)

Rick Hoyt was a healthy baby five minutes before he was born, but a complication left him with cerebral palsy; he would have no use of his limbs and would be unable to speak.

In "Devoted," Rick's father, Dick, recounts how his family worked together — especially Dick and Rick — and overcame barriers to provide hope for people with disabilities.

Dick and then-wife Judy decided that they would raise Rick as they would any other child, rather than put him in an institution as doctors recommended. They wanted to give Rick a chance at what they felt was a normal life.

But it wasn't easy to do so. The Hoyts had countless visits to doctors that were very costly in terms of time and money. And when Rick was of school age, no public schools would admit him because of his disability.

But the Hoyts found support. Judy would lobby with Massachusetts lawmakers to pass legislation that would allow Rick and other children with disabilities to attend public schools. And a team of engineering students from Tufts University developed a communication device so Rick could express himself.

Rick proved to school and state officials that he was intelligent and therefore able to attend school with other children. He eventually earned a degree from Boston University.

Along the way, Dick and Rick began running in races together. It started when Rick wanted to participate in a race that benefited another young man who was paralyzed due to a sports injury. He wanted Dick to run while pushing him in a wheelchair. The two have now run more than 1,000 races.

This was the beginning of Team Hoyt, as Dick and Rick set out to participate in races to show what could be accomplished by anyone with perseverance.

At first, race organizers were reluctant to let Team Hoyt compete in their events, but Dick and Rick ran extremely well, and they have become the crowd favorite at their hometown race, the Boston Marathon.

"Devoted" is a story that needs to be told. Dick Hoyt's retelling of his life experiences with his family have provided and will continue to provide motivation for people to strive to succeed at anything they do. This book delves into the family's background and recounts how many setbacks were overcome during their lives.

Team Hoyt's story is one that has inspired millions and will continue to do so. Team Hoyt's story will provide that hope and more.

e-mail: rtrishman@desnews.com