Still Here: Fragments of Life in Cancer and Bloom

By Dr. Akiva Turner

Still Here is a poetic journey through cancer, love, and resilience. Written by Akiva Turner-anthropologist, lawyer, public health professional, and Chair and Professor of Health Science at Nova Southeastern University-this collection bears witness to the griefs, grit, and unexpected grace that surface in the face of illness. Turner was diagnosed with muscle-invasive bladder cancer in 2020, as the world was reeling from the COVID-19 pandemic. Misdiagnosed for months, then thrust into surgery and grueling treatment, he learned that his cancer had already spread to the lymph nodes. After years of remission, the disease returned as Stage IV metastatic bladder cancer. Today, he writes while living in fragile balance: in treatment, but also in remission "no evidence of disease." These poems trace that odyssey, weaving moments of pain with flashes of humor, tenderness, and defiance. At their heart is a love story: Turner's life with Avi, his partner of more than thirty years, as they face illness together. Still Here is both deeply personal and universally human-a testament to endurance, vulnerability, and the power of hope.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: B0FTW14ZMY
• ISBN13: 9798267578639
• Release Date: October 2025
• Publisher: Independently Published
• Length: 90 Pages
• Weight: 0.29 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.2" x 6.0" x 9.0"