absolutgcs.org

i just wanted to quote this from the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel:

In sickness, health, doctor always cared
Cameron helped found Columbia St. Mary’s wound center

Colette Cameron always showed compassion for the patients she treated, both as a specialist in rehabilitation and in the treatment of wounds.

So when the doctor was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2004, it was her patients’ turn at Columbia St. Mary’s, Columbia Campus, to express concern. They and their families often asked after her well-being during those times when treatments took her from the wound center that she helped found.

“Her family came first,” said her husband and fellow physician, Jeff Cameron. “But her work was important to her, so that even throughout her illness, she went back as soon as she could to the wound center.”

Colette Cameron died Thursday. She was 54.

Cameron was born and raised in Rockford, Ill. She attended Loyola University and Northwestern University’s medical school in Chicago.

Afterward, she and her family lived in Minneapolis, Indianapolis and Wheaton, Ill., before she became director of the rehabilitation unit at Columbia St. Mary’s.

Cameron’s cancer diagnosis came shortly after she had taken on a new professional challenge.

After years spent practicing pediatric and adult rehabilitation, Cameron underwent special training in wound healing and hyperbaric medicine. She became the founding medical director of the Wound Healing Center at Columbia St. Mary’s.

Husband takes over

Because the center meant so much to Cameron, her husband received training and has taken over as director of the wound center.

Even during the most difficult parts of chemotherapy and radiation treatments, Colette Cameron made sure to get to the wound center at least once a week to see her patients, her husband said.

Sometimes she would be in pain, but she never let it show to her patients, he said.

“What people will remember about her work is always being energetic and upbeat,” Jeff Cameron said.

Colette Cameron traveled extensively abroad, including Ireland, where she had family.

She loved sports and had many hobbies.

In addition to her husband, she is survived by three daughters, Katie, Kelsey and Emily; her mother, Eileen Burns; and her brothers, Chuck and Jim Burns.

A funeral Mass will be celebrated at 10 a.m. today at Old St. Mary’s Catholic Church, 836 N. Broadway. Burial will be Tuesday at Calvary Cemetery in Rockford.

Donations to the Colette Cameron Fund for Wound Healing, Columbia St. Mary’s Foundation, 4425 N. Port Washington Road, Glendale, WI 53212, were suggested.

this has been a very tough time for katie, her family and myself. katie’s mom was one of the greatest women i’ve ever met in my life. from the very first time i met her over four years ago, she was so warm to me and immediately put me at ease when i was nervous to meet katie’s family for the first time. even though katie and i are recently engaged, she referred to me as her future son-in-law relatively early in the relationship. i have never written about her diagnosis, treatment, prognosis and struggle with cancer but i wanted to do my little bit to celebrate her life.

i’ve been in milwaukee for the past week helping katie and her family in any way i can. her wake, funeral and burial were on sunday, monday and tuesday respectively. hundreds of family members, friends and coworkers attended the various services to pay their respect. to see the positive impact this woman had on the world was very admirable and encouraged me to consider what i am doing with my own life.

may she rest in peace