My life is 'not a death sentence'

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Matthew "Mo" Gerhardt Special to the Record-Eagle/Carol South

January 9, 2012

Matthew 'Mo' Gerhardt pens his journey

By Carol South Special to the Record-Eagle The Record Eagle Tue Jan 31, 2012, 01:35 PM EST

TRAVERSE CITY — If

one side of the coin has

physical disability, a devastating

diagnosis and life

in a wheelchair, Matthew

“Mo” Gerhardt chooses

to focus on the other side.

He has a wonderful family,

amazing friends, a

challenging and fulfilling

career, and an independent

life.

The Lansing-area resident

can now add published

author to his life’s

inventory. Sunday marked

his first book signing for

“Perspective From an

Electric Chair,” which is officially

released today.

Diagnosed with muscular

dystrophy at 8 years

old, Gerhardt selected his

hometown for the public

debut of his memoir. The

book’s title acknowledges

both his required mobility

assistance and the crucial

perspective it provides, and

the grounding philosophy

of a relentless optimist who

zestfully tackles life.

“There’s the literal

interpretation of the title,

the actual visual perception

but also the conception

component of that,

too,” said Gerhardt, who

spent four years writing the

book. “Being able to keep

things in perspective, being

able to make that positive,

to make sure that’s not a

death sentence.”

Told he would not live

past his teens, Gerhardt is

34 and counting. He has a

Bachelor of Arts degree in

business administration

and a Master of Science

degree in athletic administration,

both from Michigan

State University. Gerhardt

works as an adviser with

MSU’s College of Natural

Science and is a radio

analyst for the women’s

basketball program.

The novice author is

sharing his journey in part

to help other people with

a disability or parents of a

child with a disability. His

parents, Tom and Ann, now

retired teachers, and his

older brother, David, provided

a solid foundation of

love and support. Looking

back, however, Gerhardt

realized that they had no

one to talk with to share

the experiences, joys and

challenges of raising their

younger son.

“As I grew up and matured,

I think the biggest

impact, the aha moment,

was when I really started

working and talking with

younger kids, kids with and

without a disability,” said

Gerhardt. “And talking

with parents who had just

recently had a child diagnosed

with a disability.

“It was an opportunity for

maybe someone with a disability

who is living life, not

allowing others to tell me

what I can and cannot do,

to help,” he added. “This

translates across to everyone;

just because you don’t

have a disability you can

have those same stresses

and thoughts and same

failures.”

Mainstreamed throughout

his primary and secondary

school years, Gerhardt also

found incredible acceptance

from peers, teachers

and the community.

Gerhardt, a 1996 Traverse

City Central High School

graduate, recalls his 12

years in Traverse City Area

Public Schools as filled

with accomplishment and

fun. Challenges, yes, but

he fulfilled his goals and

dreams. Along the way,

instead of being ostracized

by his classmates, they

“embraced” him.

“You hear so many stories

of pain or different things

like that with kids, that was

just not my experience at

all,” said Gerhardt, who

was involved in both the

marching and symphony

bands, student government,

National Honor Society

and was named Homecoming

King his senior year.

Devoted to academics and

always challenging himself

to do better, Gerhardt typically

found a way to participate

in sports despite

his physical limitations. He

served as student manager

for both the basketball and

baseball teams and kept

stats for girls basketball

and volleyball teams.

Inducted last summer

into the Central High Trojan

Hall of Fame, Gerhardt

appreciated the honor and

recognition but quickly

turns it around.

“Any time I have the opportunity

to acknowledge

(the community), I want to

let them know that because

I truly feel they were such

a major part of my life,”

he said. “I feel so lucky for

that support.”

Close friend since elementary

school, Meagan

Alvarado, of Traverse City,

in turn praises Gerhardt

and his book as an inspiration

for anyone.

“I think when you see the

book, it would be attention

grabbing just because of its

positive outlook,” she said.

“Perspective From an

Electric Chair” is available at

local bookstores, online and

in e-book format. For more

information on Gerhardt and

his book, see www.mogerhardt.

com.