07/06/2016
Jill Just Wants 2 Help has been recognized by The Abramson Cancer Center (ACC) Patient and Family Services!
As part of our mission, JJW2H directs that the interest earned on the endowed fund at the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania be used to offset any non-medical expenses for low-income individuals undergoing cancer treatments at the Hospital with a goal to ease related financial and emotional burdens.
Thanks to the commitment and financial support of so many, some semblance of relief is being provided to those individuals and families who are unable to afford the related, non-medical expenses of dealing with cancer.
We are very excited to report that in 2015, four patients were able to be placed in hotels during clinical trials. Two recipients were young patients who were here with their parents and could not afford another hotel stay.
In addition, the ACC Patient and Family Services Department has been able to provide taxi service to numerous patients who would otherwise have to take public transportation following treatments.
ACC Patient and Family Services shared with us the following, “There are many patients who come to Penn Medicine because this is the ‘last chair back’ or ‘last resort’. In addition to suffering from their progressive disease, the treatments can be painful, debilitating and frequent. Chemotherapy can be either once a week or three times a week, and radiation therapy is often a daily treatment.
Most struggle to work and keep their jobs while they endure cancer and its effects, often just to keep their insurance so they can continue treatments. The help from Jill Just Wants 2 Help has allowed patients who are low on resources to maintain some income, dignity and independence while coming to treatment. They can take a cab instead of a bus, after enduring a four-hour treatment. They don’t always have to rely on the ‘kindness of strangers’ to get back and forth and they can maintain a semblance of dignity and independence. We see, all the time, that when people are down, sometimes support from family and friends vanish or diminish over time. It’s not easy to have to swallow your pride to ask for help when you are sick. This financial support from Jill Just Wants 2 Help provides safe and comfortable transportation and hotel stays, after grueling treatments. It is priceless and invaluable.”
In 2016 and beyond, our focus will continue to be on growing our endowed fund with the ultimate goal of building a residence for low-income individuals in need of lodging during treatment. In the interim, each taxi voucher and each hotel stay brings us one step closer to meeting Jill’s wish to help others.
Thank you!
