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Muddy Thursday
There is nothing remarkable about finding a penny on the sidewalk or bumping into an old friend on the street, but what if you stumble upon a lifeless child lying in the grass on a cold, dark night? What happens then? In Muddy Thursday, Darla Garvey tells us exactly what happens, because it happened to her. And that child? He was her son.
Darla Garvey would have preferred to discover that she was a writer by crafting a work of fiction, rather than a memoir that centers on the most traumatic event of her life. And that is the sudden, mysterious death of her twelve-year old son, Ray Garvey. But Ray was here, he mattered, and his story deserves to be told.
Ray lived with cystic fibrosis (CF), a genetic life-threatening disease that primarily affects the lungs and digestive system. His daily care was complicated and time-consuming, but between respiratory treatments Ray lived as if he didn't have cystic fibrosis. He was equal parts charming, feisty, thoughtful and funny. In fact, nothing brought Ray more joy than making people laugh. So it seems especially cruel that a young boy who brought laughter to this world, and one who fought every day to slow the progression of his disease, would be blindsided by something else that suddenly took his life.
Ray's younger sister, Martha was also diagnosed with cystic fibrosis. Not only did Martha lose her only sibling, she lost her best friend, her partner in crime, and the only other person she knew who had CF. After her brother's death, Martha was left to deal with complications from her illness without the one person who would have understood her fight and would have championed for her to hang in there. Muddy Thursday chronicles Martha's courageous journey with, and without, her brother.
Muddy Thursday is undoubtedly a heartbreaking story, but it is also sprinkled with humor and unexpected twists and turns. It is not just a story about loss and grief. It is a story of strength, courage, and hope. Most of all, Muddy Thursday is a love story.
Darla Garvey would have preferred to discover that she was a writer by crafting a work of fiction, rather than a memoir that centers on the most traumatic event of her life. And that is the sudden, mysterious death of her twelve-year old son, Ray Garvey. But Ray was here, he mattered, and his story deserves to be told.
Ray lived with cystic fibrosis (CF), a genetic life-threatening disease that primarily affects the lungs and digestive system. His daily care was complicated and time-consuming, but between respiratory treatments Ray lived as if he didn't have cystic fibrosis. He was equal parts charming, feisty, thoughtful and funny. In fact, nothing brought Ray more joy than making people laugh. So it seems especially cruel that a young boy who brought laughter to this world, and one who fought every day to slow the progression of his disease, would be blindsided by something else that suddenly took his life.
Ray's younger sister, Martha was also diagnosed with cystic fibrosis. Not only did Martha lose her only sibling, she lost her best friend, her partner in crime, and the only other person she knew who had CF. After her brother's death, Martha was left to deal with complications from her illness without the one person who would have understood her fight and would have championed for her to hang in there. Muddy Thursday chronicles Martha's courageous journey with, and without, her brother.
Muddy Thursday is undoubtedly a heartbreaking story, but it is also sprinkled with humor and unexpected twists and turns. It is not just a story about loss and grief. It is a story of strength, courage, and hope. Most of all, Muddy Thursday is a love story.
321 pages, Kindle Edition
Published October 8, 2021
7 people are currently reading
40 people want to read
About the author
Darla Garvey
2 books3 followersDarla Garvey is a former elementary school teacher turned author. Her memoir, MUDDY THURSDAY, is her first book.
Garvey's writing skills were honed by instructors at the Loft Literary Center in Minneapolis. Further encouragement and guidance came from fellow St. Paul East Sider and NY Times bestselling author, Steve Thayer, as well as editorial feedback from Minnesota Book Award-winning author, Julie Kramer.
"Darla's strategic pacing weaves humor and heartbreak while dropping prescient hints that lend intensity to the storytelling in this remarkably honest narrative of a mother's joy and grief. Muddy Thursday contains lessons for anyone struggling to make sense out of tragedy. While this is Garvey's life story, have no doubt, her son steals the show. It is clear she will never forget him, but sharing her unflinching memories ensures readers never will either. This story will stay with me for a long time." ~JULIE KRAMER, Minnesota Book Award-winning author of Stalking Susan.
"I read a rough draft of Muddy Thursday several years ago and it has stayed with me ever since. A strong book by a strong woman. In fact, if the manuscript Darla Garvey handed me had been a work of fiction, I'd have told her she was throwing too much at the main character ... the grieving mother of a dead son, the loving mother of a determined daughter, a school teacher, a cancer survivor, and a cop's wife. The fact that her inspiring true stories take place in many of the neighborhoods I ran as a child make the book even more poignant." ~STEVE THAYER, NY Times bestselling author of The Wheat Field
Garvey's writing skills were honed by instructors at the Loft Literary Center in Minneapolis. Further encouragement and guidance came from fellow St. Paul East Sider and NY Times bestselling author, Steve Thayer, as well as editorial feedback from Minnesota Book Award-winning author, Julie Kramer.
"Darla's strategic pacing weaves humor and heartbreak while dropping prescient hints that lend intensity to the storytelling in this remarkably honest narrative of a mother's joy and grief. Muddy Thursday contains lessons for anyone struggling to make sense out of tragedy. While this is Garvey's life story, have no doubt, her son steals the show. It is clear she will never forget him, but sharing her unflinching memories ensures readers never will either. This story will stay with me for a long time." ~JULIE KRAMER, Minnesota Book Award-winning author of Stalking Susan.
"I read a rough draft of Muddy Thursday several years ago and it has stayed with me ever since. A strong book by a strong woman. In fact, if the manuscript Darla Garvey handed me had been a work of fiction, I'd have told her she was throwing too much at the main character ... the grieving mother of a dead son, the loving mother of a determined daughter, a school teacher, a cancer survivor, and a cop's wife. The fact that her inspiring true stories take place in many of the neighborhoods I ran as a child make the book even more poignant." ~STEVE THAYER, NY Times bestselling author of The Wheat Field
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Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews
November 8, 2023
A Year In The Life of a Paperback Book:
My brother recommended it to my sister who then read it and brought it down to my mom’s house when she was finished.
In the meantime, I was on a library kick but the library didn’t have it.
At least a few months passed. I forgot about the book.
And then I was visiting my mom and she brought it out and said I should read it (she didn’t know my sister told me about it a long time ago) like it was her own idea.
BUT BRING IT STRAIGHT BACK TO ME BECAUSE I STILL HAVEN’T READ IT SAID SHE, THE MOTHER. (She’s 87 so she needs to be listened to.)
By this time, I recognized that the book had searched me out and not vice versa.
I read it. I cried. Ray Garvey found me. His spirit lives on in this book.
The possibility that I may buy this book in bulk and give it as a Christmas present to everyone on my list is very strong.
BRINGING IT BACK TO MY MOTHER THIS WEEKEND BECAUSE SHE REALLY DOES NEED TO READ IT TOO.
My brother recommended it to my sister who then read it and brought it down to my mom’s house when she was finished.
In the meantime, I was on a library kick but the library didn’t have it.
At least a few months passed. I forgot about the book.
And then I was visiting my mom and she brought it out and said I should read it (she didn’t know my sister told me about it a long time ago) like it was her own idea.
BUT BRING IT STRAIGHT BACK TO ME BECAUSE I STILL HAVEN’T READ IT SAID SHE, THE MOTHER. (She’s 87 so she needs to be listened to.)
By this time, I recognized that the book had searched me out and not vice versa.
I read it. I cried. Ray Garvey found me. His spirit lives on in this book.
The possibility that I may buy this book in bulk and give it as a Christmas present to everyone on my list is very strong.
BRINGING IT BACK TO MY MOTHER THIS WEEKEND BECAUSE SHE REALLY DOES NEED TO READ IT TOO.
July 7, 2022
This book was given to me by my sister. Darla you are such a wonderful writer. I can’t begin to tell you how moved I was reading your book
April 5, 2023
I really enjoyed this touching true story .. written by a wife of my Johnson high classmate ❤️
November 29, 2021
Beautiful and heartbreaking.
July 29, 2023
This beautiful and heart-wrenching memoir is a must read. That is all.
November 16, 2021
Outstanding book. This book was the best book that I have read this year. Very well written. The other told the story of a very tragic event in her family's life. Very emotional and yet funny. I felt like I was there in the story and felt all of the raw emotions and humor. Lots of tears and laughs. Excellent read.
January 6, 2022
Great book, would highly recommend. Heartbreaking, funny and inspirational!
June 1, 2022
Loved this book, so personal and intense that I had to set it down and pick up again when I wasn’t crying. Beautifully written.
Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews