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Travis Roy in 1995 |
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Travis Roy, a young hopeful in the world of
hockey, finally realized his lifelong dream - only
to see it turn, in an instant, into an unexpected
nightmare. Yet for Travis another, even more
unanticipated, saga was about to begin. That
story, a drama of courage, determination, and the
power of love, would open up an astonishing new
life for one extraordinary young man - and touch
the hearts of millions.
Eleven seconds was all it took. Eleven seconds to
stop cold a shining career scarcely before it had
take off on the ice. Travis Roy was a promising
20-year-old hockey star. Then moments into his
first collegiate game as a Boston University
freshman, a freak accident drove Travis into the
boards. A cracked fourth vertebra left him
paralyzed from the neck down.
That fateful October night in 1995 signaled the
death of one dream - but also the eventual rebirth
of a special kind of hope. For, though imprisoned
for months in a hospital bed, then confined to a
wheelchair, Travis gradually found the grit and
the will to reclaim for himself a fulfilling and
productive life.
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Travis Roy today |
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From the very start of his ordeal, Travis enjoyed
the support of a close-knit family; a legion of
friends; his coach, Jack Parker; and his
girlfriend Maija, who, despite the crippling
effects of his injury never wavered in her
devotion to his recovery and well-being.
Ultimately, as his struggle became national news,
an entire country became his fan club - cheering
him on as he adjusted to daily life and rooting
for him when he established the Travis Roy
Foundation, which is dedicated to research and
one-on-one assistance for spinal injury cases.
(Travis Roy's story) is a story
about America's love affair with sports and the
people who embrace its never-die spirit. Most of
all, it is the story of one young man who
surrendered to no limits and defied all odds, both
before and after the tragedy that ended his game.
--E.M.
Swift in Eleven Seconds
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