GIMP

When Life Deals You a Crappy Hand, You Can Fold---or You Can Play

By: Mark Zupan

Narrated by: Mark Zupan

Mark Zupan was a college soccer star, out drinking one night with friends. Tired from the game and from a few too many beers, he decided to take a nap in the back of his best friend's pickup truck. Still asleep when the pickup started and drove away, he was suddenly jolted awake when the truck crashed. Mark was thrown into a canal and stuck for fourteen hours. When he was finally rescued, Mark discovered the terrible truth—he'd broken his neck and was likely a quadriplegic, facing life in a wheelchair and only limited use of all four limbs.

At first Mark's only goal was to walk again, and when that proved impossible he fell into a terrible despair, furious with himself and increasingly bitter. But through love, friendship, and an introduction to a new sport, Mark has gone on to create an existence that's truly exceptional. Now a Paralymic athlete (playing Quad Rubgy, aka ""murderball""), Mark's memoir explains that in a way getting hurt was the best thing that ever could have happened to him. Inspiring, defiant, and revealing, GIMP will appeal not only to fans of Murderball, but also to anyone ready to be motivated by a story about triumphing over the odds.

Read by Mark Zupan

©2006 Mark Zupan; (P)2005 HarperCollins Publishers, Inc.

Same story

my son suffered a significant spinal injury in a car accident almost.10 years ago. He like this young man have accomplished so much in their recovery. In rehab Brian told me he was going to walk out of there, I wasn't going to tell him any different. He was a power lifter before the accident and he put his mind and body in recovery mood in rehab. The surgeon had told him this was a life changing event and he needed to prepare himself. He pushed himself and he did walk out of there. After a short time in a Veteran's facility to strengthen his hands he returned to work full-time a day after his homecoming and graduated with.his class getting his MSW. He is an inspiration to me, I admire his dedication to his recovery.