In an Instant: A Family's Journey
ABC's Bob Woodruff's Story of Traumatic Brain Injury and Healing
ABC newsman Bob Woodruff's life changed when he suffered traumatic brain injury while reporting in Iraq. "In an Instant" is a family's love story and journey in healing.
In an Instant: Life Changes
Bob Woodruff’s journalism career was riding the proverbial wave of success in December 2005. He landed the co-anchor position, opposite Elizabeth Vargas, on ABC’s “World News Tonight.”
In an instant, Woodruff’s life changed on January 29, 2006. While reporting on U.S. and Iraqi security forces, an improvised explosive device (IED) was triggered by the vehicle he was riding. ABC cameraman Doug Vogt was also injured in the blast but not to the extent of Woodruff. Escaping death and losing a significant portion of his left skull, Woodruff suffered traumatic brain injury (TBI) and spent 36 days in a coma. In an Instant: A Family’s Journey of Love and Healing is co-written by Woodruff and his wife Lee. It's a story about love and healing before and after the accident.
In an Instant: A Love Story
Evoking smiles, giggles, tears and heartache, In an Instant is written in journal format. Entries alternate between the early days of the Woodruffs' young love and life following the accident. The Woodruffs recount the same stories but sometimes offer different perspectives on the mentioned events.
Stories evolve around love, ambition and change beginning with the story of a young and ambitious lawyer-turned-reporter and his quest to get the important story and advance his career. Lee Woodruff is the backbone of the family supporting her husband’s career decisions but not always understanding his best intentions. In an Instant’s journal format gives the book a more authentic and frank look into the Woodruffs' lives and what they were feeling during high and low points. Very little, if anything, is sugar-coated.
In an Instant: The Amazing Brain
Bob Woodruff's story demonstrates how complex and amazing the human brain is and the capabilities and limitations it has following a traumatic injury. After awaking from the coma, Woodruff experienced triumphs and frustrations but his recovery is nothing short of a miracle. Woodruff’s frustrations are felt when the newsman recounts the loss of his extensive vocabulary and needed to improvise with alternate words or mime what he wanted to say. Of course, these moments led to funny anecdotes.
It’s easy to fall in love with Lee and Bob Woodruff and the book is difficult to put down. The Woodruffs invite readers into their lives and at times, it’s like reading the journal of an old friend. In an Instant: A Family’s Journey of Love and Healing is an inspiring reminder about the power of love, devotion and determination. It's also a reminder of how quickly life can change and how the human spirit rises when challenged with difficult situations.
In an Instant: Helping Others
Bob Woodruff's story raises awareness about U.S. military service members returning from Afghanistan and Iraq with TBI. Woodruff and his family have become advocates for service members with TBI and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) by establishing the Bob Woodruff Family Fund for Traumatic Brain Injury. The organization raises awareness and funds to assist military personnel with rehabilitation.
Woodruff returned to on-air reporting on ABC News in February 2007 with "To Iraq and Back: Bob Woodruff Reports." The hour-long show documented his recovery and raised awareness of military service members returning home with TBI. Lee Woodruff is a freelance writer and public relations executive. The couple live in Westchester County, N.Y. with their four children.
In an Instant: A Family’s Journey of Love and Healing was published in 2007 by Random House. The hardcover book is 284 pages and costs $25.95 U.S.
