It began in childhood, when Bruce was a little distant, and progressed into adolescence when Bruce was withdrawn and aggressive but it wasn't until he attempted suicide that the root of Bruce's behaviour was discovered--schizophrenia. After years of successful and unsuccessful treatments, setbacks and progressions, institutionalization and independence, Bruce's life is altered forever as the voices inside his head drive him to commit the most unthinkable act known to mankind. Doris Ray, Bruce's mother, tells the real-life story of living with her son as he struggles with the horrors of schizophrenia. As Doris describes the devastating effects on her family, finances and community, The Ghosts Behind Him also provides insight to important social issues such as mental health care and the legal system.

Doris Ray is a retired home support worker who resides with her husband in the Fraser Lake-Endako area of North Central British Columbia. Doris's first book The Ghosts Behind Him (Caitlin Press 1999) chronicling her family's devastating experiences with her son Bruce's schizophrenia, was the recipient of a BC2000 Book award. Over the years she has self-published volumes of poetry and short fiction. In 1998 Doris received a phone call relaying some previously unknown and intriguing information concerning her mother's family history. The book Common Threads is based upon bits and pieces of archival data and personal reminiscences, which have been strung together with a whole lot of conjecture on the part of the author.

Doris Ray's profile page