Ms Mary McManus is a poet, fund raiser, former award winning social worker at the Department of Veterans Affairs, 2009 Boston Marathon Finisher, inspirational speaker, and an award winner in her new life discovered a whole new world was waiting to unfold before her after the life altering diagnosis of post polio syndrome in December 2006.
Mary was diagnosed with paralytic polio at age 5 and overcome the childhood challenges of polio, an abusive alcoholic father and a drug addicted mother by immersing herself in her academic career. She was high school valedictorian and later received a BS in Communications from Boston University and a Masters of Social Work from Boston College where she was induced into the Jesuit Honor Society Alpha Sigma Nu.
While working at Veterans Affairs, Mary received a Certificate of Appreciation Award from the Blind Veterans Association, was Social Worker of the Year, and employee of the month but was forced to leave in 2007 because of a diagnosis of post-polio syndrome.Although she had a vision of God while paralyzed and knew that she would have the ability to overcome and be able to walk again she was told to quit her position with the VA after 20 years as a social worker. Thereafter, in February 2007 God spoke to Mary through poetry and inspirational poetry began pouring out. As she continued to visualize healing and connecting with God she began experiencing healing of mind, body and spirit. With intensive rehabilitation, lifestyle changes and harnessing her faith through prayer, writing poetry, meditation, visualization, and seeking out healers including an energy healer, a nurse healer on line and working with Dr Bernie Siegel she went on to run the 2009 Boston Marathon and raise $10,535 for Spaulding Rehab Hospital. She is now the author of two books on inspirational poetry including New World Greetings: Inspirational Poetry and Musing for a New World published in December, 2007 and Set Sail for a New World: Healing a Life Through the Gift of Poetry (2010) and donates 20% of the proceeds to Ms. Wheelchair Massachusetts Program. Her dream is to see a polio free world in her lifetime.
Mary has been a guest at the Jordan Rich show on WBZ in Boston and was selected by Bostons # 1 FM station Magic 106.7 as their Exceptional Woman. She was also a finalist for Brookline Woman of the Year 2010 and honored at their award ceremony Women Who Inspire Us. She has been featured on numerous blog talk radio shows, a presenter at the 2009 Massachusetts Poetry Festival and a speaker at the Boston GreenFest 2010. She is the subject of a short film documentary Keeping the Pace: The Mary McManus Story. She is currently working on a third book on inspirational poetry with Dr Bernie Siegel.
