I bought a book about Lucy a few weeks ago and have only read about 20 pages but it talks about how Lucy had a debilitating illness when she was around 20 or so and it left her in a wheelchair for a period of time. As many books as I've read about Lucy and as much as I've studied her, I have never read anything like that before. Don't you think that's odd??? Has anyone else read that book. It was published in 2003.

I bought a book about Lucy a few weeks ago and have only read about 20 pages but it talks about how Lucy had a debilitating illness when she was around 20 or so and it left her in a wheelchair for a period of time. As many books as I've read about Lucy and as much as I've studied her, I have never read anything like that before. Don't you think that's odd??? Has anyone else read that book. It was published in 2003.

I haven't read that book, but I first heard that story about 30 years ago. I've heard a couple variations: that she was suffering from rheumatoid arthritis (which I never heard of as being curable), that she was in an automobile accident, and that was suffering from malnutrition while on struggling to start a career in New York City. And a tabloid several years ago reported something else. Supposedly she was bedridden for a couple years ago and couldn't walk. Here's a link to a story on this: http://arthritis.about.com/od/inspiration/a/lucilleball.htm

I haven't read that book, but I first heard that story about 30 years ago. I've heard a couple variations: that she was suffering from rheumatoid arthritis (which I never heard of as being curable), that she was in an automobile accident, and that was suffering from malnutrition while on struggling to start a career in New York City. And a tabloid several years ago reported something else. Supposedly she was bedridden for a couple years ago and couldn't walk. Here's a link to a story on this: http://arthritis.about.com/od/inspiration/a/lucilleball.htm

Thanks for the link to that article. Alot of it is quite similar to the book. But I'm just amazed I had never even heard that before. I've been loving Lucy forever. I read another biographical book (can't remember the name) but it didn't mention it.

I have read similiar on her, I have Lucy In The Afternoon and one other can't think of the name but it mentioned she went back home and her Mom cared for her until she recovered.

I heard it was a severe attack of rheumatoid arthritis too. She had to basically learn how to walk again.