News [1]

 NORMAL, Ill.- Sometimes children must teach their parents how true determination, courage and hope can overcome insurmountable odds. In the amazing true story, Rebounding from Death?s Door (now available through AuthorHouse) Jeff Elliott inspires readers by sharing his son's traumatic ordeal and his will not just to live but to achieve his greatest goals.

In January 1999, 13-year-old Eric Elliott, an energetic athlete with an upbeat attitude, complained of seeing double after helping his family shovel snow from the driveway. His parents noticed with alarm that his eyes had crossed and, upon consulting with the family eye doctor, rushed him to the emergency room. Central Illinois had just been hit by the worst blizzard in 20 years, and the family miraculously made it to the hospital through four-foot snowdrifts that nearly stopped them in their tracks.

MRI results revealed a tumor in Eric's cerebellum the size of an orange. This growth not only affected his balance and coordination but threatened his respiratory and circulatory systems. The second miracle of the day occurred when world-renowned neurosurgeon Dr. Keith Kattner passed by the radiology room. An expert with innovative, specialized surgical equipment, Kattner later removed the tumor and saved Eric's life. However, the young aspiring athlete was left with double vision, no depth perception and no balance.

Even though Kattner predicted that these side effects would be permanent, Eric never lost sight of his dream of a college basketball scholarship. He went from not being able to walk without falling over to earning a full tuition scholarship to Carl Sandburg College in Illinois. Kattner indicated that statistics are not kept on the number of people that recover from such brain trauma to play a major college sport, however, he notes that Eric's case is extremely rare.

As Eric's parents watched their son score the first three-point shots of his college career, they cheered wildly from the stands, tears streaming down their faces. An eloquent account of spiritual, mental and physical strength, Rebounding from Death's Door brims with a father's love for his child and is an inspiring read for people of all ages.

Elliott earned a degree in zoology, with a focus in wildlife biology, from Southern Illinois University. He later conducted wild turkey research for two years with the Arizona Game and Fish Department. He currently lives in Normal, Ill., with his wife, Ruth, and has served as a full-time firefighter for the past nine years. The couple also has one daughter. Elliott has been featured in 37 newspaper, television, and radio interviews sharing his inspiring story. Rebounding from Death's Door is his first book..

For more information, visit: www.reboundingfromdeathsdoor.com [4].