Book Release: Finding Magic Mountain

Literary Mama columnist Carol Zapata-Whelan’s book Finding Magic Mountain: Life with Five Glorious Kids and a Rogue Gene Called FOP was released today.

In the book, Carol describes her son’s struggle with the rare genetic disease Fibrodysplasia Ossificans Progressiva (FOP), focusing on the time of diagnosis at age nine to his first year in college (he matriculated as a pre-med student at the University of California, Berkeley, in September 2004). She illustrates how this struggle with FOP has shaped and strengthened her family, and how, as a mother, the experience has taught her to put her trust in the universe, and live life one day at a time. Through her son’s remarkable grace and strength in dealing with his disease, she has learned that an unexpected encounter with suffering can be a blessing as well.

A portion of author proceeds will go to FOP research at the University of Pennsylvania, Children’s Hospital, Central California, and FOP patient needs.