Michael's Story
January 3, 2000
As a first-time head men's basketball coach at Salve Regina University, I was preparing my team for practice. Minutes before we were to start, I found out my son Max had been diagnosed with Cerebral Palsy. Max was nine months old, and I was five months into my head coaching career.
Standing before a group of fit and able-bodied young men, I started my usual practice warm-up address. But that day was different. As I began, I informed my team of Max's diagnosis. And I began to cry. Many players began to tear up with me.
After a couple of minutes, I told them we needed to have good practice because Max would never have a chance to have a good practice. Max became an inspiration to my teams for the next six years. The players viewed Max as their teammate. He is present in every championship photo because the players insisted he be.
When I left coaching – and for the eight years that followed – Max had no opportunities to be included in groups of able-bodied people. He withdrew and his physical condition worsened. That changed in 2013 when Max was welcomed onto the Northeastern University's men's basketball team. A new group of players welcomed him as their teammate.
I had my son back. His life changed – and so did theirs.