Getting the Care She Deserves: Bringing Rosie Miller to the Berman Cancer Institute

Rosie Miller has lived many lives in her 79 years. 

Born in Clarksdale, Mississippi on the infamous King and Anderson Plantation, she was pulled out of school as a child to pick cotton. By 16, she was raising her four siblings. At 19, she moved to upstate New York to pick apples. She later retired from Xerox Corporation after 37 years of dedicated service. 

Over the decades, Rosie quietly carried the weight of heart disease, kidney disease, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), diabetes, arthritis, and, eventually, breast cancer. She has always been the caregiver—rarely the one cared for. 

In September 2024, Rosie received a breast cancer diagnosis while living in upstate New York. At the time, she was caring for both her brother and her grandson. Surgery, normally the first step, had to wait. Her heart wasn’t strong enough. Months later, in February, she received a pacemaker. Only then was she cleared for breast surgery. Because of her many underlying conditions, chemotherapy was ruled out early. 

As if cancer alone wasn’t enough, tragedy struck again. In April, Rosie lost her home of more than 30 years in a fire. Everything was destroyed. Her brother suffered severe third-degree burns and spent more than four months hospitalized. Rosie and her grandson lived in a hotel, displaced and uncertain. 

In early August, Rosie underwent breast cancer surgery. Follow-up testing revealed residual cancer still present. Then came complications: within a week, a post-procedure infection caused intense pain and heavy bleeding. 

“In all my 79 years of living,” Rosie says, “that was the worst experience I’ve ever had.” 

A second surgery in September was successful. But when it came time to plan radiation therapy, her son and daughter-in-law, Chuck and Zakia Greene, stepped in. Watching from afar had been agonizing, especially as it became clear Rosie wasn’t receiving the level of support she needed or deserved. 

Zakia knew what compassionate cancer care could look like. Eleven years earlier, she had been treated for breast cancer at GBMC and remains cancer-free today. She believed deeply that Rosie needed a team that would see her as a whole person, not just a diagnosis. 

That September, Chuck brought his mother to Baltimore and the Sandra & Malcolm Berman Cancer Institute to meet Geoffrey A. Neuner, MD, Chair of the Department of Radiation Oncology at GBMC, the same physician who treated Zakia. “My radiation treatment was impeccable,” Zakia recalls. “Dr. Neuner took his time. He answered every question. I felt cared for emotionally and psychologically, not just physically.” Rosie felt it, too. 

Dr. Neuner took time to truly get to know her, gently guiding her through medical history no one had ever asked her to revisit. He helped her understand that even at her age, and with her many past health challenges, she could endure this treatment and come through it. That reassurance gave Rosie confidence. Together, they agreed radiation was the best next step. 

The treatment itself was not easy. Radiation requires lying completely still on a flat surface, challenging for anyone, especially someone living with arthritis and anxiety. The first attempt had to be stopped. The next day, treatment was successful. One by one, the remaining sessions were completed. 

It was hard. But Rosie noticed something different: patience, compassion, and grace. No rushing. No dismissing. No judgment. 

She will soon learn whether the radiation was effective in eliminating any remaining cancer cells. 

Once her health insurance is fully transitioned, she will begin care at GBMC’s Comprehensive Wound and Lymphedema Center. Still, gratitude anchors her. 

“My breasts are still sore,” she says, “but I thank the Lord every morning that I wake up. After everything my body has been through, I’m still here.” 

For the first time since childhood, Rosie is no longer the one carrying everyone else. She is the one being cared for. And she is learning to embrace what that feels like. 

Rosie’s journey continues, but today, it is carried not just by her faith, but by a community that finally sees her, supports her, and walks with her. She is thankful for all the care she has received and will continue to receive, from GBMC, her son, her daughter-in-law, family, and close friends.