Estate of Robert & Carol Hamilton
Carol and Robert Hamilton were a young, newly married couple when Carol was diagnosed with Hodgkin’s lymphoma in 1962.
Her treatment included radiation using the revolutionary cobalt-60 therapy unit which was created at the University of Saskatchewan in 1951 by medical physicist Dr. Harold Johns.
Carol was fortunate that treatment from this lifesaving, but newly discovered, technology was successful. She went on to have three healthy children and live a full life until she was diagnosed with brain cancer which led to her passing in 2006.
Sadly, Robert was diagnosed with leukemia in 2005 while caring for his beloved Carol, but lived another 14 years with successful treatments and care at the Saskatoon Cancer Centre. When he passed in 2019, his children discovered he left a gift in his Will of $75,000 to support cancer care in Saskatchewan. His children believed this very significant donation was made in honour of Carol and the great care she received at the Saskatoon Cancer Centre.
Robert and Carol Hamilton’s son and daughter-in-law, Brad and Kym Hamilton, and daughter, Heather Wheaton, at donor recognition wall for the 4D CT Simulator Community Campaign
“Our dad worked so hard to build up assets. For him to give this amount to cancer care in Saskatchewan shows how much helping the next generation meant to him,” said Brad Hamilton, son of Robert and Carol.
Robert and Carol’s children directed the donation to the 4D CT Simulator Community Campaign because they knew how important radiation therapy can be in treating cancer. Unlike the cobalt-60 that provided radiation therapy to their mom in 1962, this new technology produces precise imaging for even more targeted radiation treatments.
Robert and Carol’s gift is truly full-circle.
“I think it’s very, very important to realize that your legacy gift can really help the next generation to be healthier. I know that’s what dad wanted,” said Brad.
The Hamilton’s story was featured in Your 2021-2022 Donor Report alongside other inspiring stories of generosity. Read the Report here: https://cancerfoundationsask.ca/who-we-are/annualreports/