Surviving and Thriving with Polio by Sally MacKay

Everybody has a story, but most are never told. Sally Mackay decided in her early eighties that she wanted to tell the world about her own life story.

The resulting book is a moving, courageous, and often lighthearted account of growing up from the age of eight with polio—before vaccinations were widely available—which caused sudden and complete paralysis of the lower half of her body. Sally spent almost two years confined to a hospital bed, but she went on to live an enormously full and rewarding life. She became the mother of six children, six grandchildren, and five great grandchildren. And as if that wasn’t enough, she succeeded in gaining not just one but two degrees from St. Francis Xavier University (STFX) in Antigonish.

STFX Emeritus Professor of English Dr. Paul Marquis says of Sally: “It takes great courage to talk about the past, what has hurt you and what has made you stronger.”

And Sally’s schoolfriend Sister of St. Martha’s Loretta Gillis writes: “I remember Sally standing out as a heroine. I hugely admire how she handled her diagnosis coming so early in life.”

Sally has many strings to her bow. A storyteller, poet AND a rug hooker. You can view her gallery at the Hooked on Sally website: https://grampspride.weebly.com/