Carry On: A Story of Resilience, Redemption, and an Unlikely Family

Lisa Fenn

Aug 2016 · Sold by HarperCollins

About this ebook

In the spirit of The Blind Side and Friday Night Lights comes a tender and profoundly moving memoir about an ESPN producer’s unexpected relationship with two disabled wrestlers from inner city Cleveland, and how these bonds—blossoming, ultimately, into a most unorthodox family—would transform their lives.

When award-winning ESPN producer Lisa Fenn returned to her hometown for a story about two wrestlers at one of Cleveland’s toughest public high schools, she had no idea that the trip would change her life. Both young men were disadvantaged students with significant physical disabilities. Dartanyon Crockett was legally blind as a result of Leber’s disease; Leroy Sutton lost both his legs at eleven, when he was run over by a train. Brought together by wrestling, they had developed a brother-like bond as they worked to overcome their disabilities.

After forming a profound connection with Dartanyon and Leroy, Fenn realized she couldn't just walk away when filming ended; these boys had had to overcome the odds too many times. Instead, Fenn dedicated herself to ensuring their success long after the reporting was finished and the story aired—and an unlikely family of three was formed.

The years ahead would be fraught with complex challenges, but Fenn stayed with the boys every step of the way—teaching them essential life skills, helping them heal old wounds and traumatic pasts, and providing the first steady and consistent support system they’d ever had.

This powerful memoir is one of love, hope, faith, and strength—a story about an unusual family and the courage to carry on, even in the most extraordinary circumstances.

Ratings and reviews

Valuable life lessons in endurance, empathy. Some side-stories were annoyingly distracting from main storyline & gave sense of just being page fillers. Still, highly recommend

Excellent read. Highly recommend.

Es simplemente hermoso, dudé mucho que me fuera a encantar porque no soy un lector empedernido y soy complicado para decidir en cuanto a la lectura lo que me gusta. Amé el estilo con el que Lisa escribe, a pesar que mi lengua materna no es el inglés, pude ver belleza en ese idioma, pues, muchas veces lo he juzgado por la falta de vocabulario para expresar ciertas cosas; pero ella me demostró lo lindo que puede ser cualquier idioma. Y qué decir de la historia, es conmovedora, inspiradora, transversal, incluso la puedes ver como de ficción. Considero que cuando estamos buscando ese camino espiritual, este libro puede ser un catalizador de ese sendero porque nos puedentocar de muchas formas.

About the author

A three-time winner of the Edward R. Murrow Award and a six-time Emmy Award—winning feature producer with ESPN for thirteen years, LISA FENN interviewed every big name in sports. Today she is a sought-after public presenter, speaking on leadership, poverty, and transracial adoption, in addition to her Christian faith and its relevance in both her media career and her daily life. Lisa received her BS in communications from Cornell University. Her work has been featured on ESPN, Good Morning America, and World News Tonight. She continues to produce sports stories and write about the redemptive power of love. Lisa resides in Boston with her husband and two young children.