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John McGinley

By Lynn Mettler

Each month, iParenting.com spotlights a father who inspires and moves us, who embodies the qualities that we all admire in a person, a man and a father. Above all, the Dad of the Month is dedicated to his children. Rich or poor, famous or not, he shines as an example of what fathering is all about.

While you may not recognize John McGinley's name right off the bat, you're sure to know his face. With more than 50 impressive movies to his credit including Platoon, Wall Street, Born on the Fourth of July, Seven, Any Given Sunday and more, he's quite an accomplished actor. But his latest and most favorite project to date is his role as the quirky Dr. Perry Cox on NBC's Emmy-nominated comedy Scrubs.

"Scrubs is the best gig I've ever had," says McGinley of the show, which was the No.1, first-season comedy last year. "As an actor, it's great to play a strong leader with a heart of gold. Dr. Cox is a reluctant mentor to the rookie doctors he trains, but he takes his leadership role seriously and relies on the tough-love school of teaching."

In real life, it's the leadership role of Dad to 5-year-old son, Max, born with Down syndrome, that McGinley takes most seriously. "I'm just completely in love with Max," he says. "He just completely redefines my universe. He's just a stunningly beautiful little boy."

When Max was born, McGinley says he immediately hit the books to learn everything he could about Down syndrome, and his expertise today is remarkable. He's an active advocate for Max, working to give him opportunities to help him develop and acquire the mental and physical skills that he needs. "The learning curve is through the roof on picking up on all this kind of stuff," McGinley says.

Max does a variety of therapeutic activities every week including horseback riding, gymnastics, trampoline work and much more. McGinley says that trampoline therapy, for example, helps develop Max's connective tissues and adjusts him to "banging movements" with which Down syndrome children often have difficulty. "It's phenomenal," he says. "He loves to jump. Plus, it's tons of fun."

And it seems to be working. "We've had this huge, huge growth spurt," McGinley says. "Knock on wood here, Max is going to be a pretty high-functioning kid. He's rapidly becoming – by virtue of this wonderful, developmental spurt – a precocious, no-good, confounded, Irish troublemaker."

Max did have a minor setback when he was 2 years old after doctors diagnosed him with a seizure disorder. McGinley and Max's mom, Lauren Lambert, had to inject him with medicine to keep him from having seizures. Eventually, however, it abated, and he no longer has any problems. "Everything else, God willing, seems to be falling into place," McGinley says.

Next fall, Max will head to kindergarten for the first time, which McGinley thinks will be a great experience. "The number one way Max learns is by mimicking or mirroring others," he says.

And who better to mimic than Dad? McGinley, who has Max on the weekends, says they do all kinds of fun stuff together, some of which also helps Max developmentally. "I am a moving, 100-pound Irish jungle gym," McGinley says. "I'm what you want to climb on."

The pair spends lots of time in the garage, which McGinley has lined with mirrors since it's easier for Max to see himself do activities. "We do this thing where we dance," he says. "I put him on my shoulders, I put on Van Morrison, and we just dance." While it's not only fun, being on his dad's shoulders also helps Max engage certain muscles.

Father and son also sing together, play musical instruments, run the dogs, go to the beach and much more. "I sing to Max constantly, because he sings along with me," McGinley says. "It becomes this parade of good, clean fun and lots of it."

But one of his favorite activities is reading Max a story every night. Even on nights when Max is at his mom's, McGinley still tries to read him a story over the phone when he can.

While McGinley spends most of his time as Dad and Dr. Cox, he's also made time to be the spokesperson for the National Down Syndrome Society's annual Buddy Walks for 2002 after participating in one of the walks with Max last year.

More than 150 walks, which raise funds for and awareness of Down syndrome, take place in cities across the United States each October in honor of National Down Syndrome Awareness Month.

McGinley recently attended two of the walks – in New York City's Central Park and in Los Angeles' Griffith Park – and he encourages the public to get involved. "Buddy Walk is not just for people with special needs," he says. "It's wide open. Everybody's welcome. It really is breathtaking."

And he points out it's not a long hike or run since it's only 1 mile, so it's easy for anyone to participate. For more information on the Buddy Walk or to find a walk near you, log on to www.buddywalk.org.

When parents learn they have a child with Down syndrome, it's often easy to start to feel sorry for themselves. McGinley's best advice to parents of children with Down syndrome, especially new parents, is avoid that trap. "It feels like an impediment or roadblock for the kids," he says. "But, you know, Max – he's both guns blazing. He's ready to go. He never ever feels sorry for himself.

"These kids are extraordinary," McGinley says. "Put a penny of love in, and get about a million dollars back in return."