Kevin McGuire

The commencement speaker at the Sargeant School of Health, BU, was Kevin McGuire.  Kevin is a handicapped man, due to a car accident at the age of 7.  At first I thought he was going to be one big commercial for his business, but he wasn't.  The company is doing wonderful things such as using technology to give deaf & blind children a chance to experience the movies.  His company works with businesses and facilities to make sure their policies do not discriminate against the disabled and are handicap accessible.

He spoke about how physical therapists and occupational therapists are the backbone and support system for patients.  How you see them on a regular basis and become friendly.  I thought to myself, "I hope Gary will be this to his patients".

He spoke about his difficulties.  His school principal simply chopped the doors off a bathroom stall when he asked for some privacy when going to the school bathroom.  The principal thought his wheelchair would now fit in.  The disability office at his college was on the 2nd floor with no elevator.  I wondered if my second career would be in disability rights.

He's an accomplished lawyer, worked for the DA, interned in the White House, was in the Fourth of July movie with Tom Cruise and taught the disabled person how to spin in a wheelchair for the bar scene.  [Google him in Boston]

The surprise of the day was when he started to quote from the Desiderata.  He said his father, who instilled upon him a sense of doing things for yourself, and not feeling sorry for yourself read him this verse very often.

You are a child of the universe, no less than the trees & stars;  just like them you have a right to be here. 
 How could Kevin know my favorite part of the Desiderata?  I was so inspired by him I had to reach out and contact him.  So below are my note to him and his response.

Begin forwarded message:

From: Kevin McGuire 
Date: May 26, 2012 10:16:38 PM EDT
To: Chan, Julie 
Subject: RE: Hello from a BU Parent

Julie:

Just back from LA. Thank you for taking the time to write/send your note…It meant a lot to me.

Quite simply, I was honored by the honor of being asked to be a commencement speaker. Please know I will keep your son in my thoughts.

BTW, I smiled when reading about our “mutual prayer”. I truly keep it in my thoughts every day.

Best…K
*Hope you don’t mind me attaching the address.

kevin g. mcguire
chairman & ceo
mcguire associates, inc.
--------------------
From: Chan, Julie 
Sent: Thursday, May 24, 2012 9:51 AM
To: Kevin McGuire
Subject: Hello from a BU Parent

Dear Kevin,
I was so inspired by the Commencement address you gave, I wanted to reach out and thank you. My son, Gary Chan just earned his BS in Health Science and has a goal of being a Physical Therapist.

Everything you said resonated with me, inspired me, made me smile, made me angry, made my heart ache.  When you talked about PT/OT’s being the backbone/friend/everyday confidant of the patient, I thought.  ”gee, I hope Gary will do that”.

The thing that got me the most is when you quoted from the Desiderata, which I have hanging in my living room.  Oddly enough, I have told people that my favorite part of the saying is the exact part you quoted.

“You are a child of the universe, and just like the stars and trees you have a right to be here”.

Thanks for a wonderful speech.
Julie