Silent Courage

At the age of twenty-five, Mary Byrne Eigel finally found the answer she had pursued since childhood. The reason for her unexplained, persistent pain that compromised her legs and hips was finally named. She learned she had been born with bi-lateral hip dysplasia. Throughout her life, her parents had never provided an answer when she asked, “Why do my legs hurt?” Had this been an intentional cover-up? Was the cultural stigma of a physical defect too much for her family to accept?

Eventually multiple surgeries relieved her physical suffering. However, the abrupt absence of her chronic pain forced Mary to confront the mental, physical, and spiritual dimensions of the healing. With gratitude for the lessons she has learned, Mary presents an insightful perspective on the attitude, tools, and resources she enlisted while navigating her own road to wellness and a pain-free lifestyle.