Book: THANK MY LUCKY SCARS by Ward Foley

“…wonderfully funny, tragically heartbreaking, and deeply inspiring…”

Ever heard of Arthrogryposis Multiplex Congenita?

Neither had I, until last year when I encountered Ward ‘Scarman’ Foley on twitter.   It was just before a Dewey’s Read-a-thon.  So when I discovered that Mr. Foley was the author of a inspirational memoir with a catchy title, I added THANK MY LUCKY SCARS to my read-a-thon reading list. It was the first book I read and if it had been the only book I read, I still would have considered the read-a-thon a huge personal success.

THANK MY LUCKY SCARS turned out to be one of the most engaging, compelling and inspirational books I read last year.

Unfortunately during a read-a-thon you read, so I only wrote a short blurb about Mr. Foley’s book fully intending to write a lengthier book feature later.   It is now “later.”  I ‘m just not sure I can do justice to the impact it had on me.

THANK MY LUCKY SCARS is a wonderfully funny, tragically heartbreaking and deeply inspiring memoir about finding and sharing your best in life, no matter the circumstances, and giving your love, whether it is to yourself, others or god.

Ward Foley, aka Scarman, was born with Arthrogryposis Multiplex Congenita (AMC) a condition that left him “with club feet and clubbed hands, and without hip sockets and many muscles and tendons.”  By the age of 24, Ward had endured 30 surgeries.

“When all you see is the negative,
it’s time to change the film.”

Ward Foley, “Scarman”

One would think AMC was enough of a hurdle to deal with in life, but events and, sadly, people would continue to take Ward Foley to the deepest, darkest places imaginable.   Mr. Foley’s gift, strength and wisdom comes from  his amazing ability to keep finding his way back out of those dark times and seeing the possibilities, seeing the humor, seeing the love, and seeing a way to live a meaningful life.

Ward Foley is not a perfect man and his book is not about perfectly surviving a miserable life.  It’s about living life fully — embracing that life will always carry some pain, and may even at times be nothing but pain, yet still having the strength of will to dig deep and find the humor and the compassion to love ourselves and others and the courage to keep reaching out with an open heart.

“The world is full of hopelessness
and I’m just trying to get rid of a little lessness.”

Ward Foley, “Scarman”

Do yourself a favor —  read this book.

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