Sunday, July 10, 2011

In Memory

Our beloved former First Lady, Elizabeth Ann Bloomer Warren Ford, better known as Betty Ford passed away this week at age 93. While some may not realize it, this quiet woman was a pioneer for her time.

She was the first to publicly admit to having breast cancer. Here's what she said, "When other women have this same operation, it doesn't make any headlines," she told Time magazine. "But the fact that I was the wife of the President put it in headlines and brought before the public this particular experience I was going through. It made a lot of women realize that it could happen to them. I'm sure I've saved at least one person—maybe more."

Women all over the world who have battled this disease have her to thank for bringing a "private" issue to the fore front, it is estimated that in 1974 she saved hundreds of lives after she spoke openly about her breast cancer.

Betty Ford through the years.

She also admitted to being an alcoholic and was responsible for creating the world renowned Betty Ford Center that bears her name. This clinic helps people from all walks of life battle drug, alcohol abuse. She was very proud of her sobriety.

She was also the first First Lady to speak openly about a woman's right to choose, she believed in equal rights for woman and equal pay for women. Needless to say she wasn't popular with conservative Republicans, but she was adored by most Americans and especially women!

******

P.S.  Sorry for being out of touch this week, I was really sick, I was only able to manage to look at a few posts and then had to crawl back to bed . . . 

12 comments:

  1. Betty Ford was a truly inspirational woman! RIP.

    P.S. Hope you feel better soon!

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  2. Thank you for posting this. I always admired Mrs. Ford. Hope you feel better soon.

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  3. First of all ... I sure hope you are feeling better! Summertime is NO TIME for being sick!

    Secondly, I have been out of the loop, as SB and I have been on an extended camping junket, hence no phone, computer, TV, or tech of any sort. Reading of Betty Ford's passing is news to me and your tribute is better than any CBS, NBC, ABC live stream. You're so right ... she was ahead of her time ... or perhaps a discreet voice of reason within The Beltway at a time when the mainstream was leery of her attitudes, for they melded with the radical feminists and recognized the excesses of the 60's generation and the politically powerful. What a woman!

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  4. hi mary...glad to hear you are feeling better....missed you

    what a heartfelt and beautiful post about a wonderful woman...

    lovely

    happy to stop by today..and YES!!! check out In A Vermont Kitchen...i LOVE that book..

    sending get well wishes and love,
    kary and teddy
    xx

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  5. Sorry to hear you were poorly, but you posting again hopefully means you are a lot better already :-)

    Thank you for posting this about Betty Ford. I have had enough close-up experience with both breast cancer and alcoholism to know that these topics are still not easy to address for most people, but women like Betty Ford helped in making the general public more aware of what is going on - and, more importantly, what can be done to assist those who are affected, directly or indirectly.

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  6. I thought you'd gone a bit AWOL... hope you feel better soon... do you want me to fax you some chicken soup?

    ... it's always sad when a pioneer dies but it does bring to the surface all the wonderful work she did...

    feel better !

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  7. This was a lovely tribute. Hope you are feeling better.

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  8. So sorry you've been ill. I agree that the summer is no time to be ill! Betty Ford was a wonderful woman and an inspiration to so many women. It was infuriating that the media spent so much time on the dark side of her alcoholism rather than the good she did... She had the last laugh by leaving a wonderful legacy for anyone who needs the help...

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  9. Hope you feel better soon. Betty Ford was always someone who was an inspiration to so many women. A lady before her time. God bless!

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  10. I have always admired Betty Ford for her courage. She was not afraid to show her vulnerability and because of that she went on to help so many people. Very thoughtful post.

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  11. I think we'll never know how many lives were touched and saved by the courage of Betty Ford. May she rest in peace.
    Sam

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  12. What a shame this news didn't reach Ontario. She was a very classy lady who I have always had a deep respect for.

    ~Andrea

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I'm thrilled you've stopped by and I always enjoy your comments! Thank you!