Why did you write the book? It's an open door to my life.
It's an open door to a lot of people's lives, to show what people
go through. You know, you're 18, you break your neck, and, we
discussed it in the movie, it's the worst thing. But then you
realize that life isn't over. It's now just beginning, and to see
the transformation from able-bodied to disabled to one of the best
athletes in the country in a chair, that's cool - because I've
always been an athlete, and I've always been driven. It's cool to
actually show people that just because you're in an accident or
something in life goes wrong, it doesn't mean you have to pack up
and say "I'm done."
What did writing the book do for you? I guess it makes me
realize that during certain periods of time in life, people do
stuff that goes above and beyond. It makes you see what, and how
much, friends mean. You realize it, but you don't really realize it
- to see how people react in situations that they don't necessarily
have to be in. I've learned a lot more about myself. I guess you
find out what you really mean to your parents. And I've learned
that
I've made mistakes, but hopefully people don't look at that
as bad; it's just a learning process. It's a hard one. I haven't
really sat down and thought about it. It's just weird. It's weird
to see your life and your stories in print.
In the book, you told the story of punching your little brother
in, well, a sensitive area when you thought he was pitying you
after the accident. Are you treating him better these days?
That whole situation, it just pretty much cemented what our
relationship is and was. Now, it's awesome. We have such a great
relationship. He's almost like a protector to an extent, but he
still knows I'm his big brother and that I'll do anything for him.
It was difficult for him. I think he looked up to me, and to see
that happen, it kind of [messed] him up a bit. As time went on and
he saw I was going to be normal and that sports were still
important, we sat down and talked. That's kind of one of the cool
things about getting hurt.