Many of you are familiar with the accomplishments of Barbara Bush's children—George W. Bush as the 43rd President, Jeb Bush as the former governor of Florida and a presidential candidate. And then there’s Neil, Marvin, and Dorothy Bush Koch. But there’s one member of the family whose story remains less known. Robin Bush, Barbara and George H.W. Bush’s first daughter, passed away nearly 65 years before her mother. So, how did Barbara and George's daughter Robin Bush die? Let me take you through her story.

Robin Bush: A Life Cut Short

Robin Bush was the second child of Barbara and George, born on December 20, 1949. Tragically, her life was cut short at just three years old when she succumbed to leukemia in 1953, the same year she was diagnosed. In a poignant 2012 Today interview with her granddaughter Jenna Bush Hager, Barbara Bush recounted the devastating moment she heard the diagnosis. The doctor had bluntly told them, “You don’t do anything. She’s going to die.” Barbara recalled the doctor advising, “Take her home, love her. In about two weeks she’ll be gone.”

Barbara, George, and their four sons in 1956.

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The Final Days

Despite the doctor’s grim prognosis, Barbara and George, then an oil businessman, took Robin across the country to find a hospital willing to treat her. They pursued every possible treatment, including blood transfusions and bone marrow tests. But despite their efforts, Robin passed away in October of that year. Barbara vividly remembered the moment, saying, “I was combing her hair and holding her hand. I saw that little body, I saw her spirit go.”

A Legacy of Hope

In an act of profound generosity, the Bushes decided to donate Robin’s body to medical research. Barbara later explained, “It made [George and I] feel that something good is coming out of this precious little life. And today, almost nobody dies of leukemia.” Thanks to advancements in research, the survival rate for children with acute lymphoblastic leukemia treated at St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital is now an impressive 94%. Even decades later, Barbara spoke fondly of her daughter, saying, “Robin to me is a joy. She’s like an angel to me, and she’s not a sadness or a sorrow.”

Someone sent this to me—I don’t know the artist but I love him. Miss you Gans.
A post shared by jennabhager (@jennabhager) on Apr 18, 2018 at 1:32pm PDT

Reuniting in Heaven

Jenna Bush Hager once shared that her grandfather George believed he would see Robin first when he passed away, a prediction Barbara agreed with. However, Barbara passed away first in April 2018, and Jenna posted a touching cartoon on Instagram depicting her grandmother meeting Robin in heaven. As People reported, Barbara will now be laid to rest near Robin’s grave at the George H.W. Bush Presidential Library in College Station, Texas.