Chemotherapy will take its toll on a patient.
Whether that be physically, emotionally, or both, it's far from a fun process. Thanks to the initiative of a local healthcare worker, and the support of the entire community, chemotherapy patients in Bonnyville can find a little comfort.
The chemo comfort bag program aims to provide every patient of the Bonnyville Cancer Clinic with items that will help them throughout their treatment.
The initiative was spearheaded by Bonnyville Healthcare Centre staff member Carrie Goldsmith, who started it in honour of a friend's daughter after she passed away from cancer in September 2015.
“While she was in the Cross Cancer Institute her girlfriends were so supportive that she would get these chemo comfort bags monthly. I just thought it was such a loving way to show that somebody cared about the journey she was on,” expressed Goldsmith, adding that more limited versions of the bag used to be supplied by the Alberta Cancer Foundation.
“When they dropped the funding a year ago, I thought this was something I could do to honour her memory and to also fill that gap at the hospital.”
Complete with everything from fleece blankets to hand lotion to an oncology-related cookbook, every item within the comfort bag, and even the bag itself, is there because of the generosity of the community. To cut down on the amount of funding needed from the health centre, Goldsmith approached local businesses to see if they had items or money to donate.
It didn't come as a surprise that she received an “unbelievable response.” Whether it was donating products for the program or reducing a bill for a service, everyone Goldsmith asked wanted to lend a hand.
“Everybody can relate to it; any one of us could be the next one visiting the cancer clinic. I think that's why people responded to it, because they know in their hearts this is something that needs to be done for our patients. It wasn't just me, It wasn't just the cancer clinic, it's this whole community and hospital supporting our patients.”
After collecting all of the required items to included, 60 chemo comfort bags were packed and delivered to the cancer clinic in November 2016. By December, the bags were being passed out to every chemotherapy patient.
So far, at least 20 chemo comfort bags have been given out – getting a great response from clinic patients and staff alike.
“I think they're fabulous. It's great because there's quite often a lot of side effects (patients) have that they never really thought about ahead of time, so at least they have everything in there to get them through the initial difficult times,” said oncology nurse Melissa Fredette.
She added, “All of the patients seem to be really excited and very appreciative of these bags and, quite often, are bringing a lot of these products back with them for future treatments.”
Located inside the hospital, the Bonnyville Cancer Clinic sees patients from across the region, including Cold Lake, Lac La Biche, St. Paul and Vilna.
While chemotherapy treatments, and subsequent side effects, vary by patient, Fredette noted that even if you can physically see the impact its having, the process can be a very difficult one.
“Quite often people think of chemo and they think of feeling physically unwell, but its nice with these comfort bags because there are tools in there to help patients through their journey... Just to know that there are other people in the community that care can have a greater affect than one would think.”
The chemo comfort bags program will run for the duration of 2017 at the Bonnyville Cancer Clinic, with the hope of extending it into future years, dependant on donations.
