"This story began in Winchester, Mass., 43 years ago, when Rick was strangled by the umbilical cord during birth, leaving him brain-damaged and unable to control his limbs.
"He'll be a vegetable the rest of his life," Dick says doctors told him and his wife, Judy, when Rick was nine months old. "Put him in an institution."
But the Hoyts weren't buying it. They noticed the way Rick's eyes followed them around the room. When Rick was 11 they took him to the engineering department at Tufts University and asked if there was anything to help the boy communicate. "No way," Dick says he was told. "There's nothing going on in his brain."
"Tell him a joke," Dick countered. They did. Rick laughed. Turns out a lot was going on in his brain." Watch the video below to see just how much. (click on the arrow)
Hat tip on the Hoyt's comes from --Black Five.
I found this incredible, and a GREAT story....
Wow - I remember that story. Perspective is a great feeling to cherish.Good reminder
Posted by: Howard Lindzon | October 28, 2006 at 08:19 PM
AndyI raced with them at the Bud Light Triathlon-Hartford way back in--93 i think. Great guys and still at it I see.Greg
Posted by: pretzelgreg | November 06, 2006 at 01:57 PM