It's Christmas in July!!!  What does that mean to you?  A mid-year sale at your favorite department store?   A chance to snag some deals on Christmas stuff off-season?

At Cancer Patient Services, we see Christmas a little differently in July.  While everyone is busy with Independence Day celebrations and vacation plans, we continue to serve and support newly diagnosed cancer patients and their families.  Unfortunately, cancer doesn’t take a break because it is time for the annual family vacation to the beach...  Our friends, neighbors, co-workers and family members are continuing to hear the terrible news…You have cancer.

So, it is especially this time of year that we like to remember the true meaning of Christmas: feelings of Hope, Peace, Love and Joy.  Positive feelings that make life worth living!  Here at CPS, we want to help our friends who have received a cancer diagnosis even during this sunny warm July.  We want local cancer patients to believe they can find joy, again.

So, we've collaborated locally with downtown Findlay, Ohio businesses who believe in us and our mission to serve local cancer patients. Many businesses along or off of our Main Street are offering a proceed back to Cancer Patient Services via item sales July 1 - 25. In addition, we've partnered with the Findlay-Hancock County Alliance in offering a Holiday Gift Scavenger Hunt through businesses who had signed up to offer Third Thursday specials. These are just two ways local community members can support their friends, family members, neighbors, and coworkers battling a cancer diagnosis and who are our clients.

I believe in supporting local. I believe in “giving gladly” this time of year and perhaps all year round…will you join me?

Learn more about Findlay, Ohio downtown businesses: visitfindlay.com/about/downtown/
Learn more about the Findlay-Hancock County Alliance: www.findlayhancockalliance.com/

​..Read more: Sister Sledge - We Are Family Lyrics | MetroLyrics 

I feel Sister Sledge’s "We are Family" would be ours if Cancer Patient Services had a theme song...
 
A few weeks ago, our staff spent some time at Lake Erie enjoying some time bonding and talking about how CPS is different than other cancer agencies.  The same comment came from several different staff members... we feel like an extension of our client’s families.  

Many of our clients look forward to seeing our Front Desk Receptionist, Jenny.  In fact, if she is gone and I step in to fill her role, more often than not, I get asked where she is...  {A lesser person might be offended…. :) } These questions and requests reinforce the bond that Jenny has made with our clients.  Joanne, our Patient Guide, has similar experiences.  She is the staff member that meets with every client initially during their intake meeting.  She is also the individual that helps them sign up for Medicare, Medicaid or Social Security Disability.  She is referred to as "the magician" who sorts out their piles of medical bills. Both Jenny and Joanne have received flowers, homemade cookies and other treats, as well as wonderful thank you notes from clients and family members.  

I think the reason our staff makes these close connections is only partially due to the help and support we provide.  We provide support effectively and efficiently, but that sort of help doesn’t get you homemade chocolate chip cookies. I am reminded of the part in Sister Sledge's song, "We do our work with love, large doses of love".  We love our work, but more than that we love our clients and their families.  We meet people during the most horrible times of their lives. They come to us scared and confused; angry and frustrated; depressed and despondent.  We meet them during an extremely vulnerable point in their lives.  And vulnerability is best met with love; might I add, we meet our clients with large doses of love.  

Love isn’t a word we hear too often in professional environments.  But, at Cancer Patient Services, we know that love is the most powerful method of healing.  Love provides hope when there is no hope.
 
Stay tuned for a way to join the Sisterhood of Cancer Patient Services.  Through your volunteering, ambassadorship and donations,  you can join us in providing local individuals undergoing cancer treatments with large doses of love. <3 goo.gl/VJwhPb