Challenge the Moment by Michael Kiel
I enjoyed talking to Michael Kiel about his book: Challenge the Moment. One moment. One bullet. And his life changed. He was a Sophomore in college. Healthy. Happy. This heartbreaking story could have turned out differently—instead of being unbearably sad, it is filled with heartwarming stories of how he met the challenge and has come out a winner. Told with a sense of humor with much love for the people who made his life worth living, Challenge the Moment is a book that you should read. It is a remarkable story about a man who hasn’t given up on life. Instead Michael Kiel gives it his all—as an advocate for the disabled, as a role model for young people facing similar challenges, and as an inspiration to all of us.
ABOUT THE BOOK
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.a