Betty Ford, First Lady, Drug-Treatment Pioneer, Dies at 93

[xchrom]

http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2011-07-09/betty-ford-first-lady-drug-treatment-pioneer-dies-at-93.html

Betty Ford, the outspoken U.S. first lady whose candid revelations about her struggles with breast cancer and drug and alcohol abuse helped spur awareness of issues few Americans had openly discussed before, died yesterday. She was 93 and lived in Rancho Mirage, California.

Ford “distinguished herself through her courage and compassion,” President Barack Obama said in a statement. She was “a powerful advocate for women’s health and women’s rights” who also “helped reduce the social stigma surrounding alcoholism and inspired thousands to seek much-needed treatment,” Obama said.

No details of Ford’s death were immediately available. Her husband, Gerald Ford, U.S. president from August 1974 to January 1977, died in 2006 at age 93.

A former dancer and fashion model, Betty Ford shocked the nation in 1974 when she was diagnosed with breast cancer and openly discussed her mastectomy. Eight years later, after disclosing an addiction to pills and alcohol, she co-founded the Betty Ford Center, one of the first facilities for treatment of chemical dependency geared specifically to women.

[uppityperson]

1. RIP

[Ilsa]

2. I remember her courage in bringing mastectomy into the public discussion.

Even fictional character Murphy Brown went to The Betty Ford Center.

May she rest in peace.

[xchrom]

3. i loved her -- thought she was wonderful.

[Ruby the Liberal]

4. How sad. RIP dear Betty.