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 60 th 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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