It is Past Time to Rethink Aging Gracefully: Poisoned with Counterfeit Botox in 2004, Dr. Eric Kaplan Urges Awareness, Shares Story in Forthcoming Boo

(PRWeb) January 3, 2007 -- Like millions of Americans, Dr. Eric Kaplan and his wife Bonnie thought that Botox injections would be a simple, effective and safe way to look 10 years younger. In November 2004, the Kaplans did what four million Americans do every year: they visited a doctor so they could be injected with Botox. What the Kaplans received was not Botox, but a counterfeit substance -- raw botulinum toxin, an extremely dangerous and extremely poisonous toxin. Within days, both Dr. Kaplan and his wife had developed severe botulism and were fighting for their lives in a South Florida hospital.

In an effort to raise awareness, Dr. Kaplan is sharing their story in a forthcoming book, "Dying to Be Young: From Botox to Botulism." "Dying to Be Young" (Nightengale Press, ISBN: 1-933449-40-3) is scheduled for release in February 2007.

"Dying to be Young" is a harrowing chronicle of the Kaplans' ordeal -- complete paralysis, total life support, six weeks in a Florida hospital, a lengthy stay in a rehabilitation center in Georgia and beyond.

Dr. Kaplan's hope for the book is two-fold: first, he hopes to raise the level of consciousness about the dangers associated with counterfeit Botox and second, he hopes that by sharing his story, he will inspire others to rethink what aging gracefully really means.

According to Dr. Kaplan, "In many respects, the natural signs of aging are hard to accept. Statistics show that Botox has increased in popularity over 300 percent since 2000 and that 3,839,387 Botox procedures were performed last year alone. These figures paint a clear picture. As a whole, society is obsessed with youth, looking younger and fighting the aging process tooth and nail. My hope in sharing our story is that we will help raise the level of consciousness about what it truly means to age gracefully. We struggle with trying to accept aging as a natural process, but need to remember that every wrinkle, age spot and deep line was earned by living life well and with vigor."

Dr. Eric Kaplan is regarded as one of the nation's preeminent thought leaders in practice management integration. A sought-after speaker and author of the bestselling "Dr. Kaplan's Lifestyles of the Fit and Famous," Dr. Kaplan served as one of the personnel doctors to the Trump family, and serves as adviser to the President's Council on Physical Fitness and Sports.

"Dying to be Young" will be available in better bookstores and online retailers in 2007. Nightengale Press is an independent publisher headquartered in Wisconsin. Members of the news media wishing to request an advance review copy of Dying to Be Young or schedule an interview with Dr. Eric Kaplan are kindly asked to contact Maryglenn McCombs by phone -- (615) 297-9875, or by email.

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