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Bertha Rushton

Bertha Rushton died September 1972

Most of us have memories of visits to grandma's house. My memories of my Grandma Rushton are of a lady who was always busy doing for her family, friends and others. She raised 7 sons and 1 daughter in a rural area of Nova Scotia where my Grandfather worked at logging. When most of her family were out on their own and she was widowed, she moved into the Town of Truro, Nova Scotia where she kept a boarding house. Her home was always a beehive of activity with cooking, cleaning, etc. for her boarders plus she provided a noon meal for construction crews working in the area. There were always pies in Grandma Rushton's pantry!!!

The last time I saw my Grandma Rushton was in the summer of 1970; things had not changed over the years, she was still busy as ever. Shortly after this visit, I moved to Frobisher Bay, on Baffin Island in the Northwest Territories - now known as Iqualit, Nanuvat. Birthday, Mother's Day and Christmas cards were how we kept in touch but she never mentioned once that she had cancer. I can remember my Dad calling one morning in September 1972 to tell me that my Grandma Rushton had died of cancer.

Margaret Millen

Margaret Millen died October 1976

My grandparents, Howard and Margaret Millen, moved from Nova Scotia to Brantford, Ontario in the late 1940's. Grammy Millen worked as a practical nurse in one of the nursing homes. Our family gathered at Grammy Millen's for Christmas or New Year's each year and these were always special times. My Grandma Millen was diagnosed with cancer in the Spring of 1976 and spent most of her time in the Brantford General Hospital. She was transferred to a nursing home, but a week later she was back in hospital. I visited her in September 1976 and looking at her you would never know she was suffering from cancer. She was her usual smiling self, enjoying visits from family and friends. Three weeks after this visit, my Mother called telling me that if I want to see my Grandmother again I should come immediately. My Mother tried to prepare me for the changes that had occurred in my Grandmother's appearance during the past three weeks, but when I entered her room at the Willett Hospital in Paris, Ontario I was shocked!! Laying in the bed was a shell of a woman which I never would be recognized if I had not been told it was my Grandmother. The cancer had taken over her body and left a shell of a woman. I was glad she did not have her glasses on as I did not want her to see the tears streaming down my face. Within a week of this visit, Grammy Millen passed away.

These two ladies are the first known generation of cancer in our family.

Keith Millen

Uncle Keith had undergone surgery for lung cancer. He was in and out of the hospital after his surgery and died on January 1st, 1979. He was the second generation of cancer in our family. My brother, Arnold, and myself are the third generation of cancer in our family. I hope that it ends with us!

Jeff, I wish you and your team very safe and successful journey as you travel from Coast to Coast raising funds to do the research to find a cure for the devastating disease which touches everyone in some way whether it be a family member, a friend, a co-worker, an acquaintance.

God Bless. Carolyn Rushton