Evelyn Ruud, beloved mother of two, grandmother of five, and great-grandmother of nine, loved life and her family and friends. She enjoyed traveling, was an avid crossword puzzler, taught all the little girls in the family to knit, volunteered at the library, church, and women’s club, took pleasure in a good sale, was known as the family "baby whisperer" when no one else could calm a distraught child, and enjoyed excellent health until cancer took her from all who loved her.
She was diagnosed with cicatricial pemphigoid, a rare chronic autoimmune subepithelial blistering disease that causes erosive lesions in the mucous membranes of the mouth in 1989. This condition was managed with palliative treatment of corticosteroid rinses. Evelyn became accustomed to living with oral lesions and discomfort. Unfortunately, this condition masked a cancerous lesion.
In April 2011 she was diagnosed with keratinized squamous cell carcinoma of the tongue. She underwent surgery to remove the lesion and her lymph nodes. She was cancer free for four years before being re-diagnosed in April 2015. Unfortunately, when it returned it was more aggressive and affected her infratemporal fossa, mandible, tongue, and palate. She underwent chemo and radiation in May of 2015. While Evelyn was still recovering from treatment, the cancer returned a third time in the floor of her mouth, more aggressive and relentless. Those who knew Evelyn were inspired by her strength and grace throughout her fight. After four years of fighting, Evelyn passed away on October 15, 2015, at the age of 93. Evelyn’s family is heartbroken at losing her. Although gone in body, Evelyn’s spirit will live forever in all who knew and loved her.
Funds donated in Evelyn’s memory will advance the goals of the Oral Cancer Foundation to reduce suffering and save lives by spreading awareness, supporting research, and helping those affected by cancer. Thank you for honoring Evelyn’s memory and helping to fight this terrible cruel disease with your donation. For more information about the Oral Cancer Foundation and their current campaigns, please visit, www.oralcancer.org
Donations to the Evelyn Ruud Memorial Fund can also be maid by mailing a check payable to the Oral Cancer Foundation to the address below. The foundation can also accept credit card donations over the phone at (949) 723-4400.
The Oral Cancer Foundation
3419 Via Lido #205
Newport Beach, CA 92663
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