The Power of Dreams!

After leaving my award winning career as a VA social worker to heal my life after the diagnosis of Post Polio Syndrome, a progressive neuromuscular disease in May of 2007, I had a dream of becoming a NY Times Bestselling Author and being on Oprah. I pitched my story of taking a leap of faith to heal my life after discovering the gift of poetry in my soul to one of Oprah's producers. I received a polite email back.

In February of 2008, I realized that there was another dream waiting for me; a dream that would transform my life while sending a powerful message of healing, hope and possibility inspiring others to look beyond appearances and explore the power of the mind/body connection.

My soul gave birth to that dream one year after I had discovered the gift of poetry in my soul. The first poem I wrote, "Running the Race" foreshadowed that dream.

From "Coming Home: A Memoir of Healing, Hope and Possibilities":
And then I felt a stirring in my second chakra (only then I didn’t know it was my second chakra – I thought it might have been something I ate). I went over to my laptop in the corner of the living room and I wrote this poem:

Running the Race
Early summer 1959 my kindergarten year
Everyone around me filled with nervous fear
Despite the Salk vaccine hope polio would disappear
The polio virus crept right up and knocked me in the rear.
Dancing all around the gym feeling free just like a bird
I dropped to the ground just like a stone
and no one said a word.
The pain it was so searing-the diagnosis even worse
"It's polio" the doctor said...he was abrupt and terse.
Called one of the 'lucky ones' I had a 'mild case'
But with the other athletes I could never keep their pace.
Miss Holly physical therapist,
curly hair and a warm, broad smile
It tempered the pain of being apart - to walk I'd take awhile.

I always wore those 'special' shoes
the kids they poked and teased
With no support and much abuse
with childhood I wasn't pleased.
But put nose to the grindstone and learned all that I could
I couldn't kick a ball but my grades were always good.
Years went by and no more thought to polio did I give
I accepted the limp and everything else
and decided my life I would live.
But symptoms of weakness and muscle pain did grow
I kept a stoic face hoping no one else would know.

Life no longer was my own I struggled through each day
Suffered in silence, isolated from friends-
trying to keep depression at bay.
And with the grace of glorious God my world it opened wide
I discovered there was a Post Polio team
and they were on my side.

Using wheelchair to travel, set limits on what I could do,
Resulted in joy to realize I could live life anew.
Celebrated my body- creaks, groans and need for a brace
While in my mind I focused on winning a 10K race.
Sought out paths for healanding and my spirit flew free
For the first time in life, I could truly be me.
The chains are gone and possibilities abound
I'm a tree with my roots planted firmly in ground.
I'm now off the sidelines, no need to sit and whine
So much gratitude fills my heart and love and beauty shine.
After all these years I can join the loving human race
I exceed all expectations and now I set the pace.

I sobbed to write those words. I had never spoken about polio or the abuse I endured. I became curious. Why am I writing about winning a 10K race?

I had never run a day in my life yet declared this goal that quickly became a dream to my personal trainer after partnering with her for 6 months to see if we could build on the home exercise program that Spaulding Rehab had given to me after 6 months of intensive outpatient rehab.

She suggested that I google "Wilma Rudolph" to help fuel my dream.

I was inspired by running greats Frank Shorter and Bill Rodgers who I met at the Hyannis Marathon Weekend 2009.

I was embraced and taken in by the running community discovering a whole new world!

I learned about dreams and perseverance from Billy Mills.


There were times when I wondered if I was really capable of running the Boston Marathon having had no base of running experience. I pushed through those doubts and fears and, on April 20, 2009, crossed the finish line of the 113th Boston Marathon. It took us 7 hours and 49 minutes to go the distance of 26.2 miles from Hopkinton to Boston.



I had another dream after finishing the 2009 Boston Marathon; to run in Bermuda Marathon Weekend.

But life happened and I abandoned the dream until it called to me again after a serious knee injury in December of 2014. As I healed the injury and went on to heal more deeply from the effects of paralytic polio and trauma, I returned to the roads in July 2015. How appropriate that it would be a race, Finish at the 50, on July 3rd to celebrate freedom. I met the Race Directors for Bermuda Marathon Weekend and could feel the Universe reeling me in to reclaim that dream.

I went on to run the 2016, 2017 and 2018 Bermuda Half Marathons despite the admonitions from the medical community that I should stop running and prepare for a total knee replacement in a few years!



Dreams fuel the journey to healing and transformation and to discover the greatness that lies deep within the heart and soul.

What are your dreams?

To learn more about my journey as a survivor of paralytic polio and trauma to the finish line of the 2009 Boston Marathon and beyond visit my website at www.marymcmanus.com

My books are available on Amazon.

To your dreams
To your health and wellness
From my heart to yours
Mary