Category: Biography Publisher: River Road Press
Pages: 192
Copyright: July 2007
ISBN-13: 9780978515867
An eventful true story about a four year recovery from total paralysis that climaxes with return to work as a therapist helping others with spinal cord injury. This is the first book in the series, "Sharks On Wounded Fish."
An autobiographical account of recovery from critical injury that begins in October of 1977 - the same night the author's favorite band, Lynyrd Skynyrd, crashes in their airplane with members killed.
From total paralysis and six months of hospitalization - including air medevac after the first two months - the author returns home to an active four year, spirit driven search for purpose with permanent impairment.
Loaded with humor in all challenges, Chum Water reveals a private journey where love is lost and found, worst turns best, and success overomes tribulation. Written from the unique perspecive of a patient - health care provider, the author graduates from college as a new therapist assisting others with spinal cord injury. Dreams come true - including the ability to water-ski again with residual paralysis!
Excerpt
"My workouts focused on what it would take to water ski. It had been two years since I topped the water. Getting bashed against concrete and receiving a permanent blow to a spinal cord isn't a yank on a hangnail. I needed over two years of nursing. It ran against my defiant nature for that much help to be necessary. An instinctive light came on in my head indicating that the time for nursing was over. I could cowboy up and ride away - and the fish would school again. As I always did when my actions were proper and common sense dictated, prayer guided the transition. God's control galvanized me.
Jack Kelly was a child performer, son of New York model, Nan Kelly, brother of actress, Nancy Kelly, brother-in-law of actor Edmond O'Brien and cinematographer Fred Jackman, Jr. On TV, from 1957 until 1962, he was James Garner's brother on the show,
