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We have been very busy at HCM trying to do our best helping families impacted by cancer. Continually working with the social work department of Fox Chase Cancer Center, here are a few stories of how our team has been helping (we leave out names to keep the privacy of the patient):
Fighting acute myelogenous leukemia, this patient must receive chemo treatment once a month over the course of 6 days. Traveling over two hours for the treatment, it is impossible to drive back and forth each day so he and his family stay at the Fox Chase Hope Lodge to make it as easy as possible. One main concern this family had while staying at the Hope Lodge is grocery and food costs. HCM will cover their food costs over the course of the next few months for each week they are staying at the Hope Lodge. While speaking with this family, they said, "the thing about cancer is it doesn't affect just the patient, it affects the entire family." We are happy our paths have crossed with this family because they are a big source of inspiration!
Diagnosed with breast cancer in 2006 and again in 2010, it has been the small things that have added up for this patient. In the midst of cancer treatment, it is important to keep up with other medical appointments such as the annual eye exam. Many insurances cover this, but they may not cover the cost of glasses or contacts. HCM helped this patient by paying for her glasses so she may continue to focus on the important things at hand - beating breast cancer for the second time!
This family we are about to mention had a different story. He was only 49 years old when he passed away from stage IV lung cancer. Leading into the last few weeks of his life, his wife took some time off work to spend with him. When he passed she found it difficult to keep up with his medical bills and the after death costs. The social worker reached out to us and asked if HCM can help in anyway. We were able to cover the cost of the urn so she may continue to remember and honor her husband on her own terms - the way she wants to.
This patient was newly diagnosed with thymoma which is a form of lung cancer. At 32 years of age, she needed to go into surgery asap to take care of matters so she may get healthy and return to work. Part of this process is missing work without pay so she may recover. Having trouble with the bills, the monthly rent payment was one she could not come up with. HCM didn't hesitate to step in and give some support - we put $500 towards her monthly rent to continue her spirit of hope and help her get back to good health!
Just days before starting another round of chemo, this patient mentioned she enjoyed reading and wanted a way to read books while resting between treatments. Making her more comfortable in body, mind, and spirit - HCM purchased a kindle book the day before she started her treatment. A few weeks later we received a thank you card from her that read "you are providing miracles for people with no hope and are fulfilling their lives with hope. Thank you for your generosity."
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