user icon

Rachel H.

Ruth E. Ross was a mother, sister, daughter and friend. As a nurse, she dedicated many years of life to helping others and making this world a better place. She truly believed that having compassion for others, regardless of what walk of life they come from, is the root of life's happiness.

In August 2011, she began exhibiting stroke like symptoms so she asked her daughters to take her to the emergency room. There, after conducting several tests, doctors found multiple masses on her brain. After conducting a full body MRI Ruthie was diagnosed with stage 4 lung cancer. Because of the areas in which the cancer spread (her brain, adrenal gland, her spine, and her lungs) it was determined that she could have been living with the disease for more than 10 years.

Ruthie battled lung cancer for 10 months. Radiation and brain surgery helped, however the chemotherapy treatments took a toll on her body. In June 2012 she lost everything to this horrible disease.

Since her passing her daughters have made it their mission to advocate for smoking prevention and lung cancer awareness. Their mother was their best friend, and their hero. God has gained another angel, but has given Ruthie's twin daughters the new mission of raising lung cancer awareness and preventing as many people as they can from dying from this disease.

Asthma Educator Institute
, | Jul 11, 2015