A Celebration of Life - Softcover

McManus MSW, Mary

Softcover

ISBN 10: 1492965278 ISBN 13: 9781492965275

Publisher: CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform, 2013

Synopsis

In February of 2007, I sat in a leg brace using a wheelchair at times for mobility and contemplating an uncertain future after receiving the diagnosis of post polio syndrome, a progressive neuromuscular disease. My body suffered the ravages of childhood paralytic polio followed by nine years of unrelenting trauma. I got still and discovered the healing power of poetry. My first poem, "Running the Race" foreshadowed my 2009 Boston Marathon run although I was barely able to walk at the time I wrote it. My pen became my divining rod for healing. This third collection of poems in a trilogy of poetry books about my healing journey is a celebration of my healing. They are a celebration of life and include the poems I wrote on the road to the 2009 Boston Marathon.

About this title

About the Author:

Mary McManus, MSW grew up in Westchester, NY and contracted paralytic polio in 1959 at the age of 5, during one of the last polio epidemics in the United States. Mary survived 9 years of unrelenting sexual, physical and emotional trauma at the hands of family members culminating with the suicide of her father in 1971 as she prepared to enter her freshman year at Boston University. Mary was at the height of her 20 year award winning career as a social worker at the VA when she was diagnosed with post polio syndrome, a progressive neuromuscular disease. Mary did not take the diagnosis of post polio syndrome sitting down. She embarked on a seven year healing odyssey that began with a leap of faith as she left her social work career to heal her life and to follow her new found passion as a poet and writer. Mary is a 2009 Boston Marathon finisher, blogger, the author of 5 books of inspirational poetry and her memoir, "Coming Home: A Memoir of Healing, Hope and Possibility". Mary holds a BS in Public Relations from Boston University, an MSW from Boston College and many fond memories of her VA social work career in her heart. She lives in Chestnut Hill, Massachusetts with her husband of 36 years and their four foot companion, Jamie.

About this edition

• Publisher: CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform
• Publication date: 2013
• ISBN 10: 1492965278
• ISBN 13: 9781492965275
• Binding: Paperback
• Number of pages: 88