A True Friend

by Angeline Benjamin

Kathleen Murray was my roommate when I was in graduate school at the University of Alberta in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada.

She was a great roommate and a true friend since 1975. She never missed sending me a birthday card and called me to wish me a happy birthday. We were guests at each other weddings. We have been keeping in touch through phone calls, cards, and emails for many years.

Angeline Benjamin

In April 2000, I received a phone call from her, and she told me she was diagnosed with breast cancer stage 2. Kathleen was a young 48 years old. She sounded very calm as she slowly and gently told me the details. She had seen a specialist, and she was going to have a lumpectomy, followed by chemotherapy and radiation.

I remembered my dear friend Kathleen as a health-conscious person, she exercised regularly. She went to have a breast exam when she felt pain in one of her breasts. Her doctor told her although the size of the cancer was very small, they did not want to take any chances. Although there was no sign of any cancer when she had a mammogram a few months earlier.

“Fast Forward to 2020,” Kathleen is now 68 years young and no sign of cancer! She is a powerhouse, a leader and a breast cancer survivor! This wonderful woman has been very diligent in having her mammogram scheduled and carried out every year, She continues to eat well and stay healthy as well as exercise regularly. Kathleen is now retired, and doing some volunteer work at a senior center, she makes a point of taking more vacations.

The last time we saw each other, was at Robbie Motter’s 84th birthday party, with many special and inspiring cancer survivors March 8th, 2020.

Kathleen Murray