Unfitting Stories: Narrative Approaches to Disease, Disability, and Trauma

Title Page, Copyright

Unfitting Stories Narrative Approaches to Disease, Disability, and Trauma valerie raoul connie canam angela henderson carla paterson editors We acknowledge the financial support of the Government of Canada through the Book Publishing Industry Development Program for our publishing activities. Library and Archives Canada Cataloguing in Publication Unfitting stories : narrative approaches to disease, disability, and trauma / edited by Valerie Raoul … [et al.]. Includes contributions made to the research project funded by the Peter Wall Institute of Advanced Studies, 1999–2004, and presentations at a conference held in May 2002. Includes bibliographical references and index. isbn-13: 978-0-88920-509-3 isbn-10: 0-88920-509-4 1. Sick—Biography—History and criticism. 2. People with disabilities— Biography—History and criticism. 3. Victims—Biography—History and criticism. 4. Narrative inquiry (Research method). 5. Narrative medicine. 6. Sick— Psychology. 7. People with disabilities—Psychology. 8. Victims—Psychology. i. Raoul, Valerie, 1941– r702.u54 2007 362.19 c2007-900701-5 Cover design by P .J. Woodland. Text design by Catharine Bonas-Taylor.© 2007 Wilfrid Laurier University Press Waterloo, Ontario, Canada www.wlupress.wlu.ca This book is printed on Ancient Forest Friendly paper (100% post-consumer recycled). Printed in Canada Every reasonable effort has been made to acquire permission for copyright material used in this text, and to acknowledge all such indebtedness accurately. Any errors and omissions called to the publisher’s attention will be corrected in future printings. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system or transmitted , in any form or by any means, without the prior written consent of the publisher or a licence from The Canadian Copyright Licensing Agency (Access Copyright). For an Access Copyright licence, visit www.accesscopyright.ca or call toll free to 1-800-893-5777. In memory of Gabriele Helms (1966–2004) A specialist in autobiography, Gabi was an invaluable member of the ubc Wall project on Narratives of Disease, Disability, and Trauma, both as a postdoctoral fellow and as co-organizer of the conference at which many of the essays in this volume were first presented. She became our colleague in the English department at ubc, and served on the advisory board of saga (the Centre for Studies in Autobiography, Gender, and Age). Her energy, intellect, and commitment to the project inspired us all. When she began to work on women’s illness narratives, Gabi had no idea that she soon would have her own story of pain and courage. Co-founder of a support group in Vancouver called The Young and the Breastless, she died of cancer on December 31, 2004, after giving premature birth to a daughter, Hana. Hana is flourishing. ...