Fortunately medical science had
progressed in the intervening
years and Betty faithfully travelled
to and from the Royal Infirmary
for Joan’s dialysis treatments and
regular in-patient stays.
It was around this time that the
family moved to 188 Kingsbridge
Drive, with St Oswald’s becoming
their church.
A knock on their door on a dark
evening in 1972 brought news
that a kidney donor match had
been found for Joan and she was
whisked away for what was to be
the first of her two transplants!
After five weeks in hospital, Joan
was able to go home and seven
months later was leading a
normal life, having returned to
work.
Betty herself started what would
be a long career as an optician’s
receptionist, latterly with Robert
Japp in Victoria Road for whom
she would work until she was a
remarkable eighty years of age!
Sadly, as Joan’s health improved,
father Jim developed cancer and,
after two years of debilitating
treatment, ultimately died in
Mearnskirk Hospital in July 1978
leaving Betty with a 14 year old
son to bring up on her own.
No stranger to adversity, Betty
just got on with things and
ultimately saw her son go to
university, then to marry Caroline
in 1988 and, in 2003, to produce
Betty’s adored grandson, Jamie.
With all her old neighbours either
passing way or moving, Betty and
Joan, for whom the long and
steep staircase in their
Kingsbridge Drive home was
proving troublesome, moved to a
more manageable and
comfortable property in Busby.
In 2008, Betty found herself in
distinguished company when she
shared a table with the Queen
and the Duke of Edinburgh at a
celebratory lunch to mark the 60th
anniversary of the NHS.
Sadly, that wasn’t to be her final
link with health provision, but this
time the outcome was a happier
one when Joan received a
second and successful kidney
transplant with the donor being
her brother Jim!
Betty enjoyed her retirement,
remaining sharp of mind to the
end and although her passing
was sudden, it was merciful. She
had had more than enough of
hospitals and would have hated
being admitted to one.
Betty died at home, close to
those she loved.
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