Recently I have been asked about ChemoAngels and what is it and what do I do? First I have to say that has changed my life. Several years ago, I decided to become an Angel after a seeing how much it helped my dear friend’s husband as he faced brain cancer. As both a former nurse and preschool Director/teacher, I had been used to caring for others. Thought I don’t need to work outside the home, I still feel the need to make a difference in this world. One way I can do that is through my traditional Angeling, Special Assignments, and volunteer Administrative work.
ChemoAngels matches volunteers with patients undergoing treatment for cancer. The Angel commits to sending cards, notes, and little gifts to their patient at least once a week for the duration of the assignment. An Angel can request a child or an adult and even male or female. An Angel can choose to be a Traditional Angel and send gifts or a Card Angel and send cards/notes. It is not a pen pal program in that the patient or their parents are not required to correspond directly with the Angel. They do need to check in with administration once a month and the Angel can request that info each month. One of my administrative jobs is to send that info on to the Angel making that request.
I was very lucky when first buddy’s mom chose to keep in touch with me via email right from the start. (We sometimes call our patients buddies.) Wyatt has a brain tumor that often requires many years of treatment to keep it stable (not necessarily cure it), so his mom Shayne, decided to release me to Angel someone else. But Shayne and I have kept in touch for over 3 years now and I consider her a dear friend and her sons, Wyatt and his twin Jacob and her DH Colby, are very special to me and David. (That's Jacob and Wyatt above.) Last fall David and I drove almost 700 miles to meet them and I spent a few days in their town with the family. It was a wonderful time.
Meeting other Angels as changed my life as well. Jenn is an long time Angel who lives locally and we became good friends through ChemoAngels. We enjoy stamping, shopping and doing lunch together. I had been making cards to a limited degree but when Jenn turned me on to stamping and StampinUp, I found a new creative outlet and I am hooked! And I feel blessed to call Caren and Betty my long distance friends as well. As an Administrative Angel I have been fortunate to chat with so many wonderful people who just want to make a difference in someone else’s life.
ChemoAngels matches volunteers with patients undergoing treatment for cancer. The Angel commits to sending cards, notes, and little gifts to their patient at least once a week for the duration of the assignment. An Angel can request a child or an adult and even male or female. An Angel can choose to be a Traditional Angel and send gifts or a Card Angel and send cards/notes. It is not a pen pal program in that the patient or their parents are not required to correspond directly with the Angel. They do need to check in with administration once a month and the Angel can request that info each month. One of my administrative jobs is to send that info on to the Angel making that request.
I was very lucky when first buddy’s mom chose to keep in touch with me via email right from the start. (We sometimes call our patients buddies.) Wyatt has a brain tumor that often requires many years of treatment to keep it stable (not necessarily cure it), so his mom Shayne, decided to release me to Angel someone else. But Shayne and I have kept in touch for over 3 years now and I consider her a dear friend and her sons, Wyatt and his twin Jacob and her DH Colby, are very special to me and David. (That's Jacob and Wyatt above.) Last fall David and I drove almost 700 miles to meet them and I spent a few days in their town with the family. It was a wonderful time.
Meeting other Angels as changed my life as well. Jenn is an long time Angel who lives locally and we became good friends through ChemoAngels. We enjoy stamping, shopping and doing lunch together. I had been making cards to a limited degree but when Jenn turned me on to stamping and StampinUp, I found a new creative outlet and I am hooked! And I feel blessed to call Caren and Betty my long distance friends as well. As an Administrative Angel I have been fortunate to chat with so many wonderful people who just want to make a difference in someone else’s life.
Well Tuesday is mail day for me and it’s time to get my Angel mail ready. Until next time, let there be sunshine to chase the clouds away and kind thoughts to cheer you and brighten your day, hugs, Linda
