Team Hoyt

One day, I was in Campus Bookstore with my father. I saw this book--- Devoted: The Story of a Father's Love for His Son(in Chinese: 最美的奉獻), and picked it up to read. I was overwhelmed by the story and quickly borrowed the book from library when I got home.

It's a story about a father whose son born with cerebral palsy(腦性麻痺) wanted his son to live a life just like a normal person. He and his wife both wanted this, so they fought to get his son to study in a public school (actually they changed the law), proved that his son, though physically disabled, can communicate with the help of a machine. The father worked hard to pay medical bills but he still felt he needed to have more connections with his eldest son. One time, they had a chance to "run" together for 8 kms, he ran, pushing his son on his wheelchair. Naturally he was exhausted when the game finished, but he knew his son had something to say, " Dad, when I run, I don't even feel handicapped."

He knew this was the chance to bond with his son. So they started training. It was in 1977. And till now, they've completed numerous triathlons.

It was beautiful. This is a book without exaggerating words or stories, just a father telling how they've overcome everything and not to believe those people who told them that they can't do it.

Just looking at the photos and certain sentences can make your eyes full of tears. So it's best not to read it in public, ha ha. But it's hard to put down this book once you chose to pick it up.

If you're interested in their story, check out this video: team Hoyt- redeemer

Julie