Cancer patients now have a welcoming message of hope when they walk into the chemotherapy unit at the Thunder Bay Regional Health Sciences Centre.
With a grant from the hospital foundation and a donation from Woodcrest Public School, the chemo unit boasts a new welcoming wall consisting of inspiring words and a bell to ring when celebrating the end of a round of therapy or to just lift the spirits of patients.
Cancer patient and survivor Susan Cameron said every word on the wall has meaning to a cancer patient and the project sends out a positive message.
“Cancer is no longer a death sentence necessarily,” she said.
“Cancer has become a chronic disease that is manageable. This helps us celebrate that success. It celebrates all of the little steps along the journey.”
Cameron said it’s exciting to see involvement from community groups like Woodcrest Public School because cancer isn’t a battle people deal with by themselves.
“It’s a journey you go through with your family, with your community as well. It’s so nice to see the community support as well as encouraging students to get involved,” she said.
The idea for the welcoming wall came from the nurses in the chemo unit. Woodcrest principal Deanna Hannaford said as a school they decided to raise some money to contribute to the project. After a day of fundraising, she walked into the chemo unit to deliver a bag of coins and dollar bills.
“I think as a principal I’m overwhelmed with the support the school community brought forth to the chemo lab,” she said, adding as a sister to a cancer survivor, the project hit close to home.
“I think that walking through the chemo doors again had a major impact on myself,” she said.
“I couldn’t be happier for the chemo lab and for our chemo patients to come through in Thunder Bay and ring that bell as a symbol of their last chemo,” Hannaford added.
