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Book Chronicles One Sun Valley Family After The Loss Of Their Son

Vicky Bates

A new book follows the journey of a Sun Valley family in the 1990s when they're faced with the death of their son.

Rocky Bates struggled from the time he was adopted with medical issues. In the book “Empty Jacket,” his mother Vicky Bates chronicles Rocky’s struggles with illness, his childhood and his sudden death at age ten.

Bates wanted to write about not just the bad times but also the good times in his life. She says her book is not just the story of Rocky’s life, but also acts as a guide to others who have suffered loss.

empty_jacket_extra_2.mp3
Author Vicky Bates reads a passage from her book "Empty Jacket." In this clip, Vicky talks about the first day she and her husband brought newborn baby Rocky home after his adoption. At first, friends and family were on hand to meet the new baby, but the couple was soon left all alone with Rocky.

Bates writes a blog about losing a child and finding hope, and is a hospice volunteer. She lives in Sun Valley.

Find Samantha Wright on Twitter @samwrightradio

Copyright 2017 Boise State Public Radio

As Senior Producer of our live daily talk show Idaho Matters, I’m able to indulge my love of storytelling and share all kinds of information (I was probably a Town Crier in a past life!). My career has allowed me to learn something new everyday and to share that knowledge with all my friends on the radio.

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