WMBD/WYZZ - PEORIA --
The
road to recovery for cancer patients can be long. But some local volunteers from the American
Cancer Society are helping pave the way.
When
Ernestine Harper was diagnosed with cancer last fall, she says life suddenly
felt overwhelming. “Being
a cancer patient is not easy because you have so much going on. So much stuff going through your mind,’
Harper said.
One
thing that weighed heavily- how to get to and from her chemo treatments. “When
I know I have to be there and I don't know how I’m getting there, most of the
time I don't sleep at night," Harper said.
But
thanks to volunteers, like Joe Connolly, getting to her appointments has become
one less thing for Ernestine to worry about.
Joe's been working with road to recovery for several years.
“It's
a worthwhile way to share some time I have," Harper said. Courtney
Heiser, from the American Cancer Society, says without volunteers, many
patients wouldn't get the treatment they desperately need to heal.
“It’s
essential. A lot of patients are too ill
to drive. They can't afford to put gas
in their car to get to and from all medical appointments," Heiser said.
But
it's not just about the logistics of getting to chemo. Ernestine says she often spends several hours
with volunteers in a week. And they develop a unique bond.
“It
means a lot to have someone just to talk to," Harper said. She
says it all helps with healing, and means fewer sleepless nights.
The
Cancer Society is looking for more volunteers in the Peoria area. If you're interested in becoming a volunteer,
please call 688-3488.
