by Jean Ellison

On her first day of seventh grade, a car struck Brooke Ellison on her way home from school. The accident left her paralyzed from the neck down and dependent on a respirator.
Ten years later, with her mother Jean by her side, Brooke graduated with honors from Harvard University. This is the story, told in their own words, of the miraculous journey that Brooke and Jean undertook so that Brooke could achieve her goals, against all odds. Written in alternating chapters by Brooke and Jean, The Brooke Ellison Story is filled with optimism, confidence, and inspiration. It is not just about one person, but about the heroics of a family. And it is not just about one extraordinary mother-daughter relationship, but about the special bond that exists between mothers and daughters everywhere.
The Brooke Ellison Story is now an A&E original movie directed by Christopher Reeve, starring Mary Elizabeth Mastrantonio, John Slattery and Lacey Chabert.