Michelle Stewart chronicled her final days on a blog before her death in 2014 from renal failure brought on from a lifetime suffering from eating disorders. Her writing and poetry has been collected in a new book, Shell: One Woman’s Final Year After a Lifelong Struggle with Anorexia and Bulimia (LifeTree Media, 2015). Stewart’s sister, Karen Flello, and Kirk Mason, Stewart’s partner, talk to Joseph Planta about the book and more.

Shell: A Memoir by Michelle Stewart (LifeTree Media, 2015). Click to buy this book from Amazon.ca: Shell

Text of introduction by Joseph Planta:

I am Planta: On the Line, in Vancouver, at TheCommentary.ca.

Michelle Stewart began writing a blog around Easter 2013, when she was diagnosed with end-stage renal failure, brought about from years of suffering anorexia and bulimia. She had months to live, and she wanted to share her story. That blog has been collected and published in a new book, Shell: A Memoir. It is such a candid book about how eating disorders can ravage a body, but not the soul of a person. Throughout Ms. Stewart’s writing, you see a person coming to terms with a terminal illness, sorting through all the unfinished business of life, anticipating death, and sharing a story and offering lessons that are inspiring, poignant, and necessary. Michelle Stewart died last year, 14 May 2014. She was a reporter and radio host in Prince George, British Columbia before she began a career in communications. She served seven years in the Ministry of Health here in British Columbia. Joining me now to talk about Michelle Stewart, her life and legacy, and this remarkable book, are Karen Flello and Kirk Mason. Ms. Flello is principal at South Island Distance Education School, and was Michelle’s sister. Kirk Mason was Ms. Stewart’s partner. He is the host of The Q Afternoon Show, and news director at Victoria radio station 100.3 FM. This book is published by LifeTree Media. Please welcome to the Planta: On the Line program both in Victoria today, Karen Flello and Kirk Mason; Good morning, Ms. Flello; and Mr. Mason, good morning.

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