Brooke Ellison Biography

Quick Facts

NAME: Brooke Ellison
BIRTH DATE: October 20, 1978 (Age: 34)
EDUCATION: Ward Melville High School, State University of New York at Stony Brook, Harvard University
PLACE OF BIRTH: Stony Brook, New York
Full Name: Brooke Ellison
Full Name: Brooke Mackenzie Ellison
ZODIAC SIGN: Libra

Best Known For

Brooke Ellison became a quadriplegic after she was struck by a car as a seventh-grader. In 2002, her inspirational life story was published in Miracles Happen: One Mother, One Daughter, One Journey.

Quiz

Think you know about Biography?

Answer questions and see how you rank against other players.

Play Now

Print Cite This

Brooke Mackenzie Ellison

APA Style

Brooke Mackenzie Ellison. (2013). The Biography Channel website. Retrieved 10:16, May 18, 2013, from http://www.biography.com/people/brooke-ellison-20833069.

Harvard Style

Brooke Mackenzie Ellison. [Internet]. 2013. The Biography Channel website. Available from: http://www.biography.com/people/brooke-ellison-20833069 [Accessed 18 May 2013].

MLA Style

"Brooke Mackenzie Ellison." 2013. The Biography Channel website. May 18 2013, 10:16 http://www.biography.com/people/brooke-ellison-20833069.

MHRA Style

"Brooke Mackenzie Ellison," The Biography Channel website, 2013, http://www.biography.com/people/brooke-ellison-20833069 [accessed May 18, 2013].

Chicago Style

"Brooke Mackenzie Ellison," The Biography Channel website, http://www.biography.com/people/brooke-ellison-20833069 (accessed May 18, 2013).

CBE/CSE Style

Brooke Mackenzie Ellison [Internet]. The Biography Channel website; 2013 [cited 2013 May 18] Available from: http://www.biography.com/people/brooke-ellison-20833069.

Bluebook Style

Brooke Mackenzie Ellison, http://www.biography.com/people/brooke-ellison-20833069 (last visited May 18, 2013).

AMA Style

Brooke Mackenzie Ellison. The Biography Channel website. 2013. Available at: http://www.biography.com/people/brooke-ellison-20833069. Accessed May 18, 2013.

Synopsis

Born in Long Island, New York on October 20, 1978, Brooke Mackenzie Ellison was struck by a car on her first day of seventh grade, paralyzing her from the neck down. Her life accomplishments as a quadriplegic—including obtaining a master's degree in public policy from Harvard University and running for New York State Senate—have been an inspiration to many. In 2002, she and her mother published her autobiography, Miracles Happen: One Mother, One Daughter, One Journey.

Quotes

"No matter what sort of adversity or challenge you might face, you can always believe that, with hope, it can be conquered and, in the end, you will be stronger for it."

– Brooke Ellison

Early Life

Quadriplegic, author, motivational speaker. Born in Long Island, New York, Brooke Mackenzie Ellison was struck by a car on her first day of seventh grade, paralyzing her from the neck down. Though given little chance of survival, through a combination of sheer will and family support, she has carved out an inspirational life for herself.

After scoring 1510 out of a possible 1600 on her College Board entrance exam, Ellison was accepted to Harvard University. With the tireless help of her mother, Jean Marie, who lived with her at Harvard, Brooke graduated magna cum laude in 2000. Her 90-page thesis, which she completed using a voice-activated computer, was titled, "Does Hope Float? The Study of Presence of Hope in Resilience."

Inspirational Accomplishments

After graduation, Ellison returned to Stony Brook, New York, to be with her family. As word spread of her achievement, she began traveling the country as a motivational speaker and making television appearances. In 2002, she and her mother published her autobiography, Miracles Happen: One Mother, One Daughter, One Journey.

Ellison is the subject of a film for A&E, The Brooke Ellison Story, directed by Christopher Reeve, who is also a quadriplegic. Ellison is also a member of the board of directors of the National Organization on Disabilities, and has plans to further her education at the master's program in public policy at Harvard's Kennedy School of Government.