Finding Ruth: A Story of Grace, Healing, and Legacy

For many years, I’ve shared this story—one that has lived in the heart of BeatCancer.Org since its earliest days. But today, I tell it again with deeper detail and a renewed sense of awe.

It begins in the late 1970s, shortly after the founding of the Center for Advancement in Cancer Education—known today as BeatCancer.Org. Our founder, Dr. Susan Silberstein, was introduced to a woman named Ruth Evelyn Williams. At the time, Ruth was diagnosed with stage 4 cancer and given only a short time to live.

Recently, I received a call that brought the story full circle. Louis von Beckhoff, a longtime friend of our organization and a gifted photographic artist (www.louisvonbeckhoff.com), reached out to share his memories from that era. He had met Ruth personally and remembers clearly that she was believed to have just days to live.

Until that conversation with Louis, I only knew the outlines of Ruth’s story—and not even her name. The last time I had heard anything about her was around 2012, early in my own journey with BeatCancer.Org. Back then, I was amazed to learn she was still alive—ninety years old and 35 years past her “expiration date.” Her doctors had given her no hope, yet here she was, decades later, living proof of what’s possible when hope, knowledge, and healing come together.

Ruth passed away a few years after that conversation—not from cancer, but peacefully at home of natural causes. As I dug deeper, I discovered something even more powerful: Ruth had not only survived, but she had thrived. She worked closely with our organization and even served on our board of directors. Her involvement was so meaningful that it was mentioned in her obituary.

You can read it here: Ruth Evelyn Williams

Connecting these dots after all these years has been profoundly moving. And as if by divine orchestration, I recently came across a heartfelt letter in our archives—a note from Susan Silberstein, PhD, written to Ruth. It speaks of two women brought together by the grace of God in a time of desperation—two lives forever changed by that meeting, who would go on to make a difference together and apart.

This story is more than a memory. It’s a reminder.

A reminder that hope is real.
That healing is possible.
And that the work we do here at BeatCancer.Org continues to ripple outward—touching lives, restoring faith, and proving that even in our darkest hours, there is light.

We honor Ruth today not just for surviving, but for giving back—transforming her pain into purpose, and becoming part of the very mission that helped save her life.

May we all be inspired by her legacy.

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The Letter:

October 28, 2004

Dear Ruth:

I was delighted to learn that Davis College is naming a new building after you.  Please accept my heartfelt congratulations on this very important honor.  You are certainly deserving of recognition for your many years of tireless efforts on behalf of cancer patients worldwide.

I remember our first encounter decades ago, when I had just founded the non-profit Center for Advancement in Cancer Education and you had recently been diagnosed with terminal metastatic malignant melanoma.  You were already well on your way to recovery when I referred you to Dr. Leo Roy in Toronto, and the rest, as they say, is history.

Because of our mutual determination to dedicate our lives to educating others about nutritional and other non-toxic cancer therapies, it was natural that we work together.  Indeed, I have enjoyed our many years of collaboration, jointly teaching food preparation courses to hundreds of cancer patients, appearing together on radio and television broadcasts, and counseling thousands of desperate patients who contacted us for guidance and encouragement.

The highlight of that collaboration came on March 22, 1998, when, before a packed ballroom in one of Philadelphia’s most prestigious hotels, our organization presented you with the coveted Gold Carrot Award in recognition of your selfless commitment to helping those with cancer. I shall never forget that special occasion and your beautiful acceptance speech following the presentation.  You were magnificently inspiring and graciously humble as you gave your testimony as a cancer survivor who vowed to dedicate her life to helping others overcome this dread disease.

As if one victory against cancer were not enough for a lifetime, I have learned that you are now making a successful recovery from adenocarcinoma of the colon.  I am especially pleased that your doctors are respectful of your choice to pursue the nutritional therapies that we both know to be so effective, rather than chemotherapy or radiation.

You continue to amaze me, Ruth.  You have done a superb job working with physicians and patients alike, lecturing at conferences throughout the world, and providing one on one guidance to patients.  I will always be grateful to you for the numerous training sessions you offered under the auspices of the Center for Advancement in Cancer Education in the greater Philadelphia area.  With generosity, patience and expertise you helped us provide the free education in nutrition, detoxification, exercise and spirituality that has made such a tremendous difference for so many.

As you know, I have continued to make referrals to you for the benefit of those who need your guidance.  The latest referral, a writer from London – himself a cancer survivor – has, I understand, already contacted you to arrange for an interview.  Thank you for granting one to him.

I think you will be pleased to know that our Center is continuing to make unique and important strides in the battle against cancer.  In the last 27 years, we have counseled over 25,000 patients seeking integrative, complementary and alternative programs for cancer prevention, prevention of recurrence, and support during or after treatment.  Our outreach continues to grow, our cases are multiplying rapidly, more and more physicians and nurses are learning about the benefits of this type of education, and an increased number are successfully using these methods with their patients.  Like many charities, we are understaffed, underfunded and overworked.  But like you, we are dedicated to making a difference.

Ruth, I pray that you will enjoy a full and rapid recovery and that God will bless you with the strength to continue your unselfish ministry of helping others.

 

With admiration and appreciation,
Susan Silberstein, Ph.D.
Executive Director

 

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