Barbara Bush passed away in her home in Houston, Texas, on April 17,  from COPD, a lung disease. Mrs. Bush, a mother of seven, was born on June 8th, 1925, in New York City and was married to former president George H.W. Bush.

During the first year she was the First Lady, she was diagnosed with Graves’ Disease. The disease affected her thyroid gland, causing her eyes to become very red and puffy. Mrs. Bush went through radiation treatment.

Although she may have had Graves’ disease, nothing stopped her from helping people in need. Mrs. Bush started The Barbara Bush Foundation for Family Literacy, a non-profit organization that helps parents and their children with their reading skills.

Not only was Mrs. Bush dedicated to helping people in need, she also wrote a book called Millie’s Book: As Dictated to Barbara Bush, which was written from the perspective of her dog, a Springer Spaniel named Millie, while living in The White House. This book raised $1 million that went towards literacy programs.