Book excerpt: Shot point blank in the side of the neck, Michael Kiel was completely paralyzed from the neck down on April 16, 1993. As a 19-year-old sophomore at Penn State - Altoona campus, the world he knew vanished. It was turned upside down and inside out, and the next four months in the hospital and rehab center would test every fiber of his being. This memoir is about his perspective on life - his entire life - before, during, and after a life-altering spinal cord injury. He shares many of his highs and lows, the importance of humor, and the incredible support around him. His brutally honest life story, along with his poems, and humorous anecdotes will inspire others to discover humor and strength through their own challenging moments.