On October 16, 2010, Rutgers defensive tackle Eric LeGrand was known as a key performer on the field and a much-loved teammate who could make anyone smile. In the heated fourth quarter of a tie game against Army, everything changed in a moment. A crushing tackle left him motionless on the field, and while the entire stadium went silent with fear and anticipation, Eric knew his life would never again be the same.

What he didn’t know, however, was that the months to come would be a remarkable, transformative journey: one so profound that he would call the time since his accident the “best year of his life.”

Doctors told his mother that Eric would never again breathe without a ventilator. Five weeks later, though, he astonished them by drawing breath on his own. A year after the accident, the nation watched as he led his Rutgers teammates onto the field in his wheelchair—a powerful gesture that was voted Best Sports Moment of 2011 by Sports Illustrated readers.

In this uplifting memoir, now adapted for young readers, Eric tells the amazing story of how he rebuilds his life, continues his college education, and pursues a career in sports broadcasting. His belief in a grand plan and his hope for the future make him a model for anyone who has experienced tragedy or faced obstacles.