Jeff Elliott's (right) book about his son's recovery from a brain tumor is chronicled in the the movie 'Hoovey' will will premier at the Normal Theater on Jan. 31. (Photo by Colleen Reynolds/WJBC)
By Eric Stock
BLOOMINGTON – Movie producers might have dismissed it as unrealistic – except it actually happened. A local family's triumph over a potentially fatal illness is now chronicled on film.
Jeff Elliott's son Eric had collapsed on a basketball court with what turned out to be a brain tumor and the rush to the hospital during a snowstorm provided another challenge.
"We were stuck in a ditch. Snow over the tires up to the wheel wells," Jeff Elliott said, noting his son was passed out at the time and doesn't call the drive to the hospital. "Believe it or not, we had angels that helped push us out. I didn't see them, I felt them. Ruth, my wife, had a vision, saw them and we kind of put it together later that night."
The father told WJBC's Scott Laughlin, the movie based on the book he wrote, had to be dialed back a bit because the reality was too much.
The movie called "Hoovey," which is Eric's nickname, shows how the family from Normal helped Eric regain his ability to walk, see and see clearly and later become a college basketball standout.
"You can pursue your dreams through just about anything," Eric Elliott said. "(The movie) is about never giving up its about life throwing curve balls and it's not what happens to you in life, it's what you do with it."
"Hoovey" was the winner of the 2014 Best Feature Film at L.A. Sunscreen Film Festival and awarded five out of five Doves from the Dove Foundation for Family Movies.
It will premier at the Normal Theater on Jan. 31 and will run Feb. 2-6 there. A portion of ticket sales will benefit the Baby Fold, the Fellowship of Christian Athletes and Parkside Junior High School.
Tickets for the premier are $25 and include a reception and meet-and-greet at the Marriott Hotel and Conference Center.
PODCAST: Listen to Scott and Colleen's interview with the Elliott's at WJBC.com.
Eric Stock can be reached at [email protected].
