Myra Bates

Living Without the Dead Myra Bates

By using poetry to explore her father's terminal cancer, Myra Bates invites the reader to witness her journey towards living without the dead.

Myra's father was diagnosed with prostate cancer when she was seventeen-the prognosis was fatal. Through the mixed-blessing of chemotherapy, radiation, and medication, her family found ten more years together.

As the cancer begins its final spread, Myra simultaneously navigates her early steps into adulthood. She is whisked into hospital hotels, ICU, and hospice; she watches her father's mental decline months before he dies. Slowly she becomes silent, disconnected from her peers.

This memoir, written two years after his death, tells her story of finding words, of living without the dead.

"This is a book that practically forced its way into existence. But it's here. It exists. Maybe it's for you.

If you are supporting someone with terminal illness, or helping a friend through similar circumstances, it's my hope that this book can offer insight. This was written for those with grief too big to speak about." -Myra Bates