The story of his recovery moves to a wider stageBy Allen Wilson - News Sports Reporter
Everyone has been amazed by Kevin Everett’s remarkable
recovery from a serious spinal cord injury. Now he is ready to share
his story about that experience and a lot more.
Chicago-based
Triumph Books has published a book about the Buffalo Bills tight end
titled “Standing Tall: The Kevin Everett Story.”
To
help promote the book, Everett is about to embark on a nationwide media
tour, according to Scott Rowland, head of publicity for Triumph Books.
Everett
is scheduled to make a live appearance on the “Oprah Winfrey
Show” next Thursday and will be on ABC’s “Good
Morning America” the following day. “Standing Tall”
was written by Philadelphia Inquirer sports columnist Sam Carchidi, who
also co-authored a similar book about Adam Taliaferro’s recovery
from a paralyzing tackle while playing defensive back for Penn State in
2000.
The 224-page biography covers all aspects of
Everett’s life, from high school, junior college and his years as
a standout at the University of Miami. The book deals with his time
with the Bills, especially his traumatic injury and road to recovery
that has captured the country’s attention. It is now available
wherever books are sold.
It also details Everett’s
upbringing in Texas, as well as his relationship with his fiancee,
Wiande Moore. The book even includes excerpts of a personal journal
Moore kept during Everett’s ordeal as well as pictures of his
playing days and his continuing Rehabilitation.
Besides Oprah,
Larry King, David Letterman, Jay Leno, Ellen DeGeneres, Regis Philbin
and other television personalities have expressed interest in
interviewing Everett as soon as possible, Rowland said.
Bob
Woodruff, the ABC News correspondent who has recovered from a serious
brain injury suffered while on assignment in Iraq, is currently in
Houston shadowing Everett during his rehab for possible stories for the
network and its sister station, ESPN.
Everett has come a long way
since Sept. 9, when he crumpled to the turf at Ralph Wilson Stadium
after colliding with return specialist Domenik Hixon during the second-
half kickoff in the Bills’ season-opening game against the Denver
Broncos.
Doctors initially feared he would never walk again after
the operation, but the prognosis changed dramatically days later when
he began to show movement in his extremities. Everett is now walking
without assistance and attends regular therapy sessions as an
outpatient at a rehab facility in his native Houston.
Since his
release from the hospital in November, Everett has made few public
appearances. He was able to attend the Bills’ regular season
finale in December. Two weeks ago, he was the guest speaker of a
football banquet at his former high school in Port Arthur, Texas.