The bottle above shows our new "Pal" bottle design. We named this bottle "Pal" after our grandmother. She was a woman who suffered and died from breast cancer. She lived in a time when it was taboo to talk about her illness, and she was forced to suffer in silence. Here is her life story, told here in the words of her daughter.
Palmyre Anne Martin Arceneaux She was born in 1907 on her parents farm along Bayou Cinclair, in rural Lafayette Parish in Lafayette, Louisiana. She was was born into a very large family. She married Benjamin Arceneaux and moved to into the town of Lafayette. Here they raised a family of two boys and a girl. 'Pal', as she was affectionately known, a devout Catholic, was active in her church. Yearly, she had a row of gladiola flowers growing in her yard so she could arrange and place them on the altar for Sunday Mass. She kept a tidy house and yard, served healthy meals, lived a healthy lifestyle, and never smoked or used tobacco of any kind. Ben, her husband, smoked all of their married life and did not have any health issues. Pal died in 1962 of breast cancer at age 55yrs. Information of her illness is sketchy because at that time, cancer was not discussed openly as it was not understood, and kept hidden, as a possible shameful thing to have.
Palmyre had surgery four or five times to remove the cancer. She developed mets to her intestine. At that time, children were not allowed in hospitals, so the Pal's children waited together at home until Ben drove there to tell them the results of the surgery.
"They got it all" was the result every time, referring to the cancer. "They got it all".
At the time of Palmyre's death, an autopsy was performed. This too was a 'hush-hush' subject. The family Doctor came to the house to report the results of the autopsy. He described in detail how the cancer spread and had choked off the urinary tract and urine had backed into her kidneys, causing her death.
The discussion was then what to write on her death certificate as the cause of death. Urimic poisioning was listed as the cause of death and all were instructed to say that urimic poisioning was her cause of death and never to mention breast cancer to anyone.
As bad as it seemed at the time, there is some consolation now in knowing that cancer was her cause of death. Had Palmyre had the diagnostics of today, resulting in early detection, she would have been with her family for a longer time. She did not live to see any of her grandchildren. The three children born to Pal are still living, along with ten grandchildren, and sixteen great-grandchildren. Knowledge is very important for the gererations following Palmyre and your purchase of the Pal bottle will help educate generations to come.
10% of your purchase will be donated to breast cancer research. Pal's memory lives on in the hearts and minds of those who loved, knew of her, and her story.
As with all of our products, they can be customized with names, sayings, and pictures. Please visit our site and show your support with our safe and colorful aluminum water bottles.
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