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Name: Eileen Caron Age: 56
Type of Cancer: Breast Cancer

Eileen Landy Caron was born in New York City, NY on November 18, 1922. Most of her childhood was spent growing up in an orphanage, so she wasn’t able to share too many fond memories of her past. Even though she had an unhappy childhood, she managed to raise a family of happy children, mainly by herself, while my father worked more than one job to support us.

My mother’s breast cancer was diagnosed in the mid-seventies long before television began their awareness programs, and long before mammography became a household word. She suffered with a rash for far too long, before I insisted she see my girlfriend’s family physician.

The physician was very good and recognised the symptoms almost immediately and the need for further testing. A mastectomy was recommended and performed in 1976. Just five short years later, the cancer returned. It had spread to the bones in her rib cage and the outlook was not good.

Highlights: (Memorable moments, turning points, favourite memories)
The good memories of times shared with my mother certainly have over taken the memories of her illness tenfold. Some favourite memories I have of her were our long chats over a hot cup of tea. Occasionally she sang or hummed a melody while doing the dishes in our kitchen. As children she wiped our tears and noses, tended to our bruises, got mad with us when our feelings were hurt, and shared in our excitement when we won a stuffed animal. We had a happy childhood because our lives were filled with one comforting constant – our mother was always there for us.

Lowlights: (Moments of courage, digging deep within)
My mother suffered greatly during her last bout with cancer. We had her home with us briefly, but the need for round-the-clock care to avoid falls from her weakened condition, and memory losses due to complications with her potassium levels, forced us to re-admit her back into the hospital more than once.

Because of her illness, she suffered from bouts of depression where she would be upbeat for a while but reticent the next. Her illness was a strain on our family. Being of different ages, we were juggling our own lives while trying to take turns at hospital visits. My sister and I felt the need to be there during meal times to encourage her to eat to regain some strength to fight the disease and the affects of her chemotherapy. During our hospital visits, she focused on how we were doing in our jobs or night school, and often asked how my 15 year-old brother was handling things. My brother and I were at her side, holding her hand, as she made her final passage on June 9, 1981, at the age of 56.

Although she can’t be there for us now, our family shares many happy memories of our times with her. She wasn’t famous, never a career woman. She led an ordinary life. Yet she left the legacy of a happy family life with her children for them to pass on to their children.