Heather J. Ferris

Heather Ferris was born in South Africa in 1946. Her ability to face suffering was nurtured by a severe manifestation of psoriasis at 17 years, the death of her first husband, Stuart, at a young age and her unwillingness to participate in racist, apartheid South Africa. She had three daughters, moved to Canada, California, Australia landing back on Vancouver Island in 1987, following a path of self discovery and healing on many levels.

Heather and Gary met in Mexico in 1998. Theirs was a true love story with similar values and aspirations to do good in the world. After twenty-six years together Gary developed dementia and together they navigated his disease. This is described intimately in Heather's memoir DEMENTIA and OUR LOVE, Caregiving as a Spiritual journey . Gary passed away on May 19, 2024 forever in Heather's heart. Heather has become an advocate for caregivers particularly around dementia care.

Besides this latest book, Mindfulness, Awakening to a Meanigful Life (2011), and Psoriasis Healing from the Inside Out (2009) she has written five children's books and many papers, manuals and curriculum. She works in Canada teaching counsellors and in South Africa with teachers, grandmothers, social workers and caregivers who are affected by the grief of HIV and AIDS. Three books to help children in their grief written by Heather Ferris: Someone I Love Died (2007) in five local South African languages, I am not alone (2009), and a workbook for children who are grieving.