Cancer can take a toll on families, especially during the holidays. Christmas Without Cancer (CWC) and Rhino Sports Academy are giving patients hope for the holidays by providing warmth and care when they need it most. The organizations donated cancer care bags and handmade blankets for oncology patients being treated at Advocate Christ Medical Center, Advocate South Suburban Hospital and Advocate Trinity Hospital.
CWC is committed to making a difference in people's lives by spreading hope and joy with their unique cancer care bags – providing holiday gifts, as well as basic necessities to local families that are stricken with cancer. For the last two decades, CWC has spread the magic of hope to those undergoing cancer treatments with baskets of comfort, sparking pleasant memories that give a sense of solace while they battle their illness.
As an oncology nurse at Advocate Christ Medical Center, Gerri Neylon launched Christmas Without Cancer after seeing firsthand the emotional and physical challenges that cancer patients face.
“For more than 20 years, I walked with patients through their most difficult times and have a good understanding of what patients need to manage their side effects amidst their cancer struggles – especially during the holidays,” Gerri says.
The 120 care bags were filled with items to help make infusion treatments more comfortable for cancer patients.
“Our care bags consist of items such as lotion to help protect their skin when undergoing radiation, hand warmers since cancer patients tend to get very cold, mints, Clorox wipes, coffee cards, puzzle books and more,” Gerri says. “Everything a cancer patient could need to keep them safe and busy while they’re receiving treatment.”
But there’s also an added touch to the gift – a special note written by the young person or family that packed the bag, some who have fought their very own cancer battles.
“The encouraging notes that are coupled with the care bags are so adorable,” Gerri says. “It means so much to receive a nice note from someone who is thinking about you during such a difficult time.”
Leading the initiative is Jamie O’Gean, Accountant and Board Member for CWC and Coach for Rhino Baseball, whose efforts are in honor of Amber Woodworth, a former teammate at Advocate Christ who tragically passed away from cancer five years ago.
“Amber was an incredible person whose kindness and generosity was out of this world,” Jamie says. “We met in college, and it was such a genuine connection. I knew instantly she was someone who brought light with her wherever she went. Watching her go through such an aggressive and painful cancer battle crushed me, and I hoped to find ways I could impact others as she had. CWC, their positivity and energy, was present during some of the darkest times for Amber and her family. I am so grateful to have been able to bring together CWC and Rhino Sports Academy in this initiative for Advocate hospitals in honor of Amber.”
Rhino Sports Academy was founded in 2012 by Greg Blaesing and is a baseball and softball travel program geared toward youth development for children aged 7 to 17. The focus of the organization is not only to help them become the best players they can be but more importantly to help them understand the importance of becoming great people who are leaders in their communities.
“The Rhino organization wanted to give the kids a chance to do something this season to give back in their local area in a meaningful way,” Jamie says. “The organization led this initiative in a big way while the youth really took it on with great enthusiasm in helping both fundraise for and pack the care bags. All the kids who assembled the bags together took a moment to reflect and talk about how disruptive cancer is and the importance of bringing joy to these families during a time as sweet as the holidays.”
Adding to the youth bonding experience, the Rhino softball team pulled together and contributed 10 handmade cozy blankets.
“The blankets are handmade and really good quality,” Jamie says. “You can see how much love and joy went into making something so special, truly giving the gift of warmth to patients during their hospital stay over Christmas.”
Serving patients within a 30-mile radius of Oak Lawn, Ill., and with dreams to expand the organization beyond the local scope, Neylon hopes to continue impacting as many families facing cancer as possible through the work of Christmas Without Cancer.
“We would love to see the Christmas Without Cancer organization grow to be able to help more people,” Gerri says. “Advocate Health Care is home for me, and we truly hope we’ll be able to keep the partnership with Advocate going for many years to come.”
Like the Christmas Without Cancer and Rhino Sports Academy organizations, you, too, can get involved and help our patients live fully.