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“I am so grateful for the amazing care provided by the doctors and staff."
It was love at first sight.
Charles “Bill” Boxall and Shirley Mae Turner of Hamilton were both 63 years old when they met at a dance in 1996 and began a relationship that spanned nearly two decades.
They were inseparable right until Shirley passed away in 2014 from cancer.
Their positive experience at Juravinski Hospital and Cancer Centre inspired Bill to become a donor and leave a gift to The Foundation in his will.
“I wanted to support health care in the region and make a difference in the lives of other patients with my gift,” he explains. “It was also a way to celebrate what a caring and compassionate person Shirley was.”
In 1997, stomach pains led to the discovery of two tumours in Shirley’s stomach. The tumours were surgically removed at Juravinski Hospital and Cancer Centre and she underwent intensive chemotherapy, but the cancer spread to her colon.
“I am so grateful for the amazing care provided by the doctors and staff. Shirley passed away in 2014 having lived a very full life. We were able to travel the world together for 18 years.”
Bill also required the care of Hamilton Health Sciences.
He was diagnosed with prostate cancer, and the radiation therapy he received at Juravinski Hospital and Cancer Centre proved successful. Bill also underwent a heart-valve transplant at Hamilton General Hospital before being transferred back to Juravinski for rehabilitation.
Wanting to say “thank you” and give back to the community, Bill updated his will and he has left a gift to The Foundation.
“This is my way of leaving a legacy of health care excellence and honouring Shirley’s memory. My gift will purchase important medical equipment and help to ensure that patients continue to receive outstanding care, just like Shirley and I did. It’s the right thing to do, it’s easy, and I encourage other people to do the same.”
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