Vivacious Child Amputee Proves If There is a Will, There is Always a Way
By Halo Publishing International
Dated: Jan 25, 2010
Scotty Fura’s outgoing demeanor and contagious smile, it is easy to overlook the six-year-old’s missing limb.
When observing Scotty Fura’s outgoing demeanor and contagious smile, it is easy to overlook the
six-year-old’s missing limb. In fact, the Stonehedge Elementary school first-grader, nicknamed “the mayor”by friends and classmates due to his warm, welcoming personality, is quite independent and has learned to do nearly everything his friends can do, despite the fact that he only has a left arm. It was her son’s innovativeness in figuring out how to do everyday tasks and his remarkable ability to ignore his own difference and embrace life that inspired his mom, Jennifer Fura, to write and publish the book, Scotty’s Way. “Very simply,” stated the first-time author, “Scotty’s Way is about how my son, often without guidance or outside help, has figured out how to accomplish so many things.” Fura admits she wishes she had had a book such as hers several years ago when Scotty first became an amputee as a way to give hope to her son and her family of him having a normal life. “When Scotty first had his accident at the age of two and a half, his father and I had no idea at that time what lay ahead of him in life,” stated Fura. Scotty’s Way is unique in that there aren’t many children’s books available that address coping with disabilities, specifically amputation. “My goal in publishing the book was to get Scotty’s story out there in order to give encouragement and hope to other parents with children living with limb differences,” said Fura. “It is also a fun book that I think all kids, amputee or not, will enjoy reading or having read to them.” The book is a lighthearted, entertaining narrative about Scotty, who speaks in first person throughout the story, as he cheerfully describes his inventive ways of making his world work.Jennifer Fura’s favorite hobby is scrap-booking and Scotty’s Way began as an extension of her desire to document events in her children’s lives. “I was constantly amazed at all the things Scotty figured out how to do on his own and I just began jotting things down on notebook paper because I wanted him to be able to read it someday and know how proud I was of him,” admitted Fura. Soon her notes grew into something she knew she wanted to share. Fura’s mission with Scotty’s Way is to present her son as no different than any other young boy and also as an example that no matter what the obstacles, there is always a way to figure things out. “I want kids to read the book, smile and think; ‘Wow, that’s pretty neat! Look what this kid did with one arm. Just think of what I could accomplish’,” stated Fura. The author believes having the will and fortitude to overcome obstacles can be applied to many different aspects of life and feels her son’s story offers the perfect example to illuminate this concept. An excerpt from Scotty’s Way reads, “Whatever comes along, I know one thing for sure: I WILL NEVER GIVE UP. I will always try, no matter what it is. I will just have to figure out my own way to do it.” As a way to give back to her community, Fura has hired three art students from West Genesee High School in Camillus, New York, where the author is an alumna, to illustrate Scotty’s Way. Jennifer Fura was born, raised and currently resides in Syracuse, New York. She holds a degree in Criminal Justice from Oswego State University where she met her husband, Scott. Jennifer volunteers as one of the VP on her son’s PTA and holds a part-time job which allows her the opportunity to keep up with the social calendars of her two lively kids, Scotty (6) and Carly (4).
By Halo Publishing International
Dated: Jan 25, 2010
Scotty Fura’s outgoing demeanor and contagious smile, it is easy to overlook the six-year-old’s missing limb.
When observing Scotty Fura’s outgoing demeanor and contagious smile, it is easy to overlook the
six-year-old’s missing limb. In fact, the Stonehedge Elementary school first-grader, nicknamed “the mayor”by friends and classmates due to his warm, welcoming personality, is quite independent and has learned to do nearly everything his friends can do, despite the fact that he only has a left arm. It was her son’s innovativeness in figuring out how to do everyday tasks and his remarkable ability to ignore his own difference and embrace life that inspired his mom, Jennifer Fura, to write and publish the book, Scotty’s Way. “Very simply,” stated the first-time author, “Scotty’s Way is about how my son, often without guidance or outside help, has figured out how to accomplish so many things.” Fura admits she wishes she had had a book such as hers several years ago when Scotty first became an amputee as a way to give hope to her son and her family of him having a normal life. “When Scotty first had his accident at the age of two and a half, his father and I had no idea at that time what lay ahead of him in life,” stated Fura. Scotty’s Way is unique in that there aren’t many children’s books available that address coping with disabilities, specifically amputation. “My goal in publishing the book was to get Scotty’s story out there in order to give encouragement and hope to other parents with children living with limb differences,” said Fura. “It is also a fun book that I think all kids, amputee or not, will enjoy reading or having read to them.” The book is a lighthearted, entertaining narrative about Scotty, who speaks in first person throughout the story, as he cheerfully describes his inventive ways of making his world work.Jennifer Fura’s favorite hobby is scrap-booking and Scotty’s Way began as an extension of her desire to document events in her children’s lives. “I was constantly amazed at all the things Scotty figured out how to do on his own and I just began jotting things down on notebook paper because I wanted him to be able to read it someday and know how proud I was of him,” admitted Fura. Soon her notes grew into something she knew she wanted to share. Fura’s mission with Scotty’s Way is to present her son as no different than any other young boy and also as an example that no matter what the obstacles, there is always a way to figure things out. “I want kids to read the book, smile and think; ‘Wow, that’s pretty neat! Look what this kid did with one arm. Just think of what I could accomplish’,” stated Fura. The author believes having the will and fortitude to overcome obstacles can be applied to many different aspects of life and feels her son’s story offers the perfect example to illuminate this concept. An excerpt from Scotty’s Way reads, “Whatever comes along, I know one thing for sure: I WILL NEVER GIVE UP. I will always try, no matter what it is. I will just have to figure out my own way to do it.” As a way to give back to her community, Fura has hired three art students from West Genesee High School in Camillus, New York, where the author is an alumna, to illustrate Scotty’s Way. Jennifer Fura was born, raised and currently resides in Syracuse, New York. She holds a degree in Criminal Justice from Oswego State University where she met her husband, Scott. Jennifer volunteers as one of the VP on her son’s PTA and holds a part-time job which allows her the opportunity to keep up with the social calendars of her two lively kids, Scotty (6) and Carly (4).