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Genevieve Mason, MSW, LICSW
Breast Oncology Disease Center
Patient: Kristen.
I am writing to you now regarding another young woman who is looking forward to traveling to Orlando where she will visit Disney World, Epcot and the other parks with a good friend. Ali was diagnosed with Stage II Breast Cancer at age 22. She has completed months of rigorous chemotherapy. This generous gift in honor of your son, Tim, has given Ali something to look forward to as she was going through treatment and before she has a mastectomy. This experience will be a delightful distraction from the Cancer world, where she can just have fun and forget all her troubles!
Thank you so much for providing this opportunity. As I have said before, this is truly a gift of love that keeps giving. Thank you again for this precious contribution to the young adults in our care.
Kristen is a lovely 26 year old woman who works as a teacher. She lives with her boyfriend and wanted a way to celebrate the end of the most intense part of her chemotherapy. Her boyfriend and she were able to enjoy a relaxing weekend at the Mount Washington Hotel in New Hampshire. They have been dealing with adjusting to new therapy and treatment and also dealing with personal issues with the family as well. This was such a boost to Kristen?s morale and without the Tim?s Fund this would not have been possible.
Sarah Murphy, MSW, LICSW
Sarcoma Disease Center, formerly Gastrointestinal Oncology and Palliative Care
Patient: Tarik
Tarik is a sweet natured, soft-spoken, handsome 22 y.o. man, who was diagnosed at DFCI with chondrosarcoma with metastasis to his lungs, just a year after emigrating to the U.S from Uganda with his family. His mother, Miriam, had just begun nursing school, while working as a nurse?s aide in a local hospital. Tarik did extremely well medically with exceptional family support, but ultimately he required an enormous surgery called a hemipelvectomy in order to stabilize his disease. The surgery saved his life, but the procedure also robbed Tarik of his ability to walk. As for anyone, this posed a tremendous loss. Prior to becoming ill, Tarik was training for the Boston Marathon. As a long-time distance runner he relished the thought of participating as a new Bostonian. He had also just been accepted at the Mass. College of Pharmacy. The diagnosis and treatment had not been in his plans.
My job in his care at DFCI has been to offer emotional support to Tarik and his family through all of the ups and downs. I have helped him reflect on his many wonderful qualities, attributes and strengths. Even with all the other losses he has had to face, these qualities are what a disease or procedure cannot rob from him. He adores his younger sister, Marta, and always has the energy to tease her. He has become a huge Red Sox fan and was transfixed by watching his new team win the world series. One of Tarik's recent bright days was due to Tim's fund. Tarik could not believe, initially, that there was a fund devoted to helping him do/or get something fun, something that would make his quality of life better. I told Tarik a bit about Tim and included their mutual love for the Sox. Tarik said, "Tim sounds like a nice person and he had a good idea." Tarik decided to get a laptop with his grant from the fund. He explained that he would be better able to keep in touch with his friends/family in Uganda.
When I next saw Tarik with computer in hand he said, "Is it awesome or what?"
I though how "awesome" it was for this incredibly sweet young guy to feel normal, and happy and not so isolated. I also thought of another thoughtful and insightful young guy named Tim who had the vision to do something.
Nancy Diperna, MSW, LCSW
Neuro-Oncology Disease Center
Patient: Louise.
Approximately a year ago, I was able to fill the request for a plane ticket home for a young female college student. My patient, Louise, a shy and kind member of the brain tumor support group, had come all the way from a small island on Hawaii to attend college at Boston University. No sooner did she begin her first semester far from home and family, than she developed terrible headaches that sent her to the school infirmary. They had the presence of mind to send her for a neurology check-up at Brigham and Women's where she was found to have a brain tumor. This young woman underwent surgery and follow-up treatment for the physical disabilities that resulted from the tumor and surgery. She missed much of her first year of school as well as the important components of social adaptation.
Louise's family had to spend a great deal of extra money on her medical care and on accompanying her through this difficult time by unexpectedly spending time away from home and jobs on their island. It depleted an already small bank account for them. When the patient recovered and attended school regularly she needed financial help to go back home for the first time since coming to Boston, to enable her to see her family and to thank the many well-wishers who supported her and her family from afar. Louise expressed incredible gratitude for the plane ticket and thanked us by bringing back special Hawaiian cookies.
A 24-year-old married patient had a recurrence of his cancer, having been married less than a year. The patient's wife wanted to make his birthday very special for him. He is not working due to his illness and receiving Disability. The wife is not able to work because she is caring for the patient, so they are on a very tight budget. The patient had wanted an iTouch for a long time to be able to use all of the fun applications. His wife was able to purchase it for him, thanks to the Tim Roberts fund. The patient was overwhelmed by this generosity.
A 22-year-old patient was very depressed and struggling with his cancer diagnosis and not being able to spend time with his friends as a "normal" young adult. He loves sports and was overjoyed to learn that he could go to a Bruins game with a friend, thanks to the Tim Roberts Fund.
A 19-year-old patient was coming from the Midwest with his mother for a bone marrow transplant. Back home he is an ROTC student, having just been accepted into an accelerated academic school program. He also is a basketball coach and referee. He learned of his cancer diagnosis when having his routine physical in preparation for his ROTC duty. The patient had to leave everything behind to come for a transplant, which would then keep him in isolation for one year afterwards; school and his sports activities all would have to be put on hold. The patient was very excited to learn that, thanks to the Tim Roberts fund, he could go to a Celtics game with his mother, the day before he would be admitted for his transplant. The Tim Roberts Fund also paid for the cab ride to and from the game (since the patient was too sick to take public transportation).
A 29-year-old mother of a 3-year old daughter and 6-month old son had a recurrence of her cancer, which is now metastatic. She could not work due to the side effects of her treatment. Her prognosis is poor and she finds it difficult to stay in touch with her family and friends - talking on the phone feels exhausting and overwhelming. The Tim Roberts funds allowed this patient to purchase a Netbook laptop computer for her to be able to email with her friends and family.
A 25-year-old patient learned that she had cancer during the actual birth of her daughter, who is now two months old. The patient had to undergo treatment immediately after giving birth; she lost so much weight that nothing fit her - she couldn't wear any of her maternity clothes or even her regular clothes. Thanks to the Tim Roberts fund, this patient was able to shop for new clothing. This gift was very healing for the patient - purchasing new clothes helped her to begin her "new" life post-baby and post-cancer diagnosis. She was so happy to have this opportunity and said "I suppose I should spoil myself;" her husband was all for it!
A 31-year-old patient lives with her 3 children as a single mother and feels isolated; all of her friends and family live out-of-state. The Tim Roberts Fund paid for a Netbook laptop computer to help her communicate with friends & family and help her pass the time. She cannot afford one on her own as she is receiving Welfare (DTA) benefits only. She faces many months more of treatment and cannot work. The Netbook truly was a bright spot in her difficult and overwhelming circumstances.
A 30-year-old patient has two children and his wife is the family's only source of income - which barely covers their rent. They receive help from community members, but financial circumstances are very difficult. The patient travels back and forth from Rhode Island daily for treatment. The Tim Roberts fund paid for a portable DVD player for his family when they are traveling back and forth; the kids can watch movies in the car and then they as a family can watch together when they are waiting for the patient's appointments. The patient's entire face lit up when he learned about the Tim Roberts fund and the fact that he could receive such a gift.
A 21-year-old patient had recently graduated from college and was beginning a graduate degree program when she received her cancer diagnosis. She needed to leave school to undergo treatment and felt frustrated and fearful at the possibility of her life being cut short. The patient was grateful for the Tim Roberts fund which provided her with spending money to have a day out with her mom to go shopping when she felt well enough.
A 27-year-old patient recently had his bike stolen, which was his main source of both entertainment and transportation. The patient enjoys building bikes, and the Tim Roberts fund allowed him to purchase bike parts to build himself a new bicycle; this turned an awful situation into a wonderful opportunity to bring back what the patient had lost and for him to feel a sense of pride and accomplishment during a difficult time.
A 17-year-old patient loves soccer, and his parents say that the sport helps him stay healthy and improves his self-esteem. Soccer also provides him with valuable peer interactions and helps him to keep his mind off of cancer. The patient has major challenges academically due to his cancer treatment, so soccer provides a level playing field for him and his friends. The Tim Roberts fund paid for a week of soccer camp for this patient so that he could hone his skills and meet new kids who also love soccer.
A 20-year-old patient currently lives with his brother and his brother's girlfriend; he had to drop out of college due to his cancer care needs. His parents live nearby but he wanted to be independent and prefers to live with his brother. The patient has expressed that he has become really impatient with his cancer -- he is often bored and tries to push through the fatigue to do fun things with his brother - one of the only people who understands what he is going through. His only complaint is that he feels like a third wheel with his brother's girlfriend. The patient was so excited to learn that he could get a Play Station 3, thanks to the Tim Roberts Fund. He is able to be comfortable at home when he's not feeling up for going out and can play with both is brother and his brother's girlfriend. The games have allowed him to spend more time with his brother's girlfriend and he no longer feels like a tag-a-long.
A 23-year-old patient is a web designer who had to stop working, very shortly after getting a great job, due to his cancer needs. He is desperate to return to the field he loves, but he has not been well enough and is continually in treatment. He had a small and outdated computer monitor at home which he was using but which he had wanted to replace for quite some time but did not have the means. The Tim Roberts Fund allowed the patient to purchase a new, very large, and very high resolution screen that allows him to continue to work on some website designs; it also allows him to watch TV, music videos, and send emails from the comfort of his bed when he is feeling tired. This gift has made this patient so happy; he was beaming with possibilities when he learned about it.
Peter was a 30 year old married man living with his wife Susan and 2 young daughters (ages 6 and 7). Peter had recurrent Hodgkin's disease after having had both an autologous stem cell transplant as well as a reduced intensity double cord transplant. As you can imagine, Peter's young children especially missed having fun time with their dad. Given the extent of his illness and treatment he had been unable to work and it had been a long time since he had the energy to participate in family gatherings. The Tim Roberts Fund was able to provide Peter's young family with a barbeque grill which enabled them to enjoy outdoor barbeques together as a respite from Peter's cancer. The family especially appreciated this unique gift as it provided them with the opportunity to be a normal family.
"I would also like to take this time to say a few words more about what we talked about on the phone and the fund itself and what it meant to me. As a cancer patient there are obviously a of of hospital visits and the support system there is fantastic and keeps your spirits up and the positive feelings going. What most don't realize is there so much down time between treatments where often I couldn't involve myself in too much activity because of fatigue or not feeling well. This down time can be very difficult to keep the positive thoughts going. I am not used to being at home most days and was very active at work. I knew I needed something to help fill this void because I was no longer working. When I heard about this fund I was very excited. I used the fund for an Amazon gift card to pick up a few items to keep me busy during those long days at home. The most important purchase was Rosetta Stone to help me learn Dutch. My family is Dutch and I always wanted to learn the language better. This gift has made me feel like I am still living my normal life despite this disease. It keeps me focused on something that I want to accomplish in my life and has really helped during these down times. I may be struggling with cancer but I am still me and am still living a good life and that is so important to keeping up the spirits and a good fight. I am sure each of us who has received this gift has used it for many different items and reasons but I'm sure that there is a common theme. We all want something to give us a lift and feel a part of normal life while we fight our diseases."
Thanks
Lauren
I recently spoke to Gulcan, a young cancer patient at Dana Farber/Brigham and Women's Cancer, about the Tim Roberts Reeling in a Dream Fund. Gulcan shared: "It was so nice to think I could buy something or do something nice for myself all because of this thoughtful young guy. I bought a laptop with my grant because I really wanted to keep up with my family who are scattered all over the place from Australia to Turkey, while going through treatment. E-mail and webcam make your family feel much closer. And really, this is because of Tim, who I didn't even know. But I think of him each time I use my computer because it's really a gift from him." Gulcan's eyes watered when she spoke about her "gift" from Tim. "I wish I could have known him" she said. As someone who knew Tim well, I am sure they would have shared a mutual admiration. They share a generosity of spirit that brings uncommon warmth to every encounter.
A 30 year old patient with a malignant tumor had been feeling tremendously isolated, being both half paralyzed and bed bound. The days at home were exceptionally long for her, as her family had an old TV with only a few working channels. The patient could not buy a TV for herself, as she could not afford one. The Tim Roberts fund paid for a flat screen TV and DVD player for this patient, which has given her tremendous joy and comfort.
A 19 year old from New Hampshire recently had surgery for colon cancer. He had to withdraw from college as a third year student when he received his diagnosis. He currently lives with his younger sister and single mom, who is struggling to make ends meet. The rest of his family is spread out throughout the country and has found comfort in music and in his band. He wishes to be a musician someday, and the Tim Roberts fund allowed a patient to purchase both musical equipment for him and his band and a few video games.
The parents of a 17 year old with metastatic cancer and 1-3 months to live were able to use the Tim Roberts funds, per the patient's request, to purchase items to cheer up her hospital room.
A 25 year old patient relapsed after having had a stem cell transplant. The Tim Roberts fund allowed this patient to take three piano lessons, an instrument that she had always wanted to learn how to play.
A 29-year-old patient with advanced stage cancer has twin 2-year-old daughters. He is no longer working and so his wife is the major breadwinner. The Tim Roberts Fund was able to pay for a Target gift card, which allowed this patient to purchase some toys for his children and a DVD player and some DVDs for his entire family. This will enable them to spend quality time together as a family, requiring little physical effort on the patient. A 20-year-old patient with breast cancer had very limited resources prior to receiving her cancer diagnosis, and her family is unable to support her. She must pay all of her own bills, including her rent, utilities, food, and transportation to and from appointments. She is well enough to work part-time, but it is a struggle for her to make ends meet. The Tim Roberts allowed her to use a Target gift card to purchase some new trendy clothes for herself (her old clothes didn't fit since she had lost a significant amount of weight from her treatment) and some small holiday gift items for her siblings and mother.
A 20-year-old patient with breast cancer had very limited resources prior to receiving her cancer diagnosis, and her family is unable to support her. She must pay all of her own bills, including her rent, utilities, food, and transportation to and from appointments. She is well enough to work part-time, but it is a struggle for her to make ends meet. The Tim Roberts allowed her to use a Target gift card to purchase some new trendy clothes for herself (her old clothes didn't fit since she had lost a significant amount of weight from her treatment) and some small holiday gift items for her siblings and mother.
A 32-year-old sarcoma patient is a single parent with three children. She has a very limited disability income and she would not have been able to purchase any Christmas gifts for her children. This was very upsetting to the patient, as she wanted to bring joy into her home during the holidays. The Tim Roberts Fund allowed this patient to purchase a small plastic Christmas tree for her home (her health prevented her from having a live tree), as well as items for her children to decorate it. The fund also allowed this patient to purchase some games, toys, and some other items to wrap and put under the Christmas tree. Seeing her children happy made this patient very happy.
A 30-year-old patient with leukemia cannot work, and her husband is having trouble finding work as a self-employed painter. The patient?s prescriptions are not covered by her insurance and they are having trouble paying their household bills. They would not have been able to buy Christmas gifts for their two young children, ages 5 and 7, but the Tim Roberts Fund helped to ensure that Santa Claus came to their house!
A 24 year-old patient had been receiving cancer treatment in Vermont but learned that, due to the complications of his illness, he would need to transfer his care to Dana-Farber. His fiancée has had to stay in Vermont in order to continue working. The patient's medical and other bills have been mounting. The Tim Roberts Fund helped the patient and his fiancée pay for a holiday meal and for gifts for each other.
A 23-year old minister from Africa is currently living in Brockton with his wife, a three-year-old son, and a baby on the way. He recently had surgery and will soon begin chemotherapy and radiation. He is currently working 40 hours per week and just barely making ends meet with all of his medical expenses. He can?t drive due to his seizures, and the schedule for the commuter rail does not always work for his medical appointments; he is reliant on his wife to drive him. The Tim Roberts Fund helped this young man and his wife pay for much-needed items for his son and his soon-to-arrive baby.
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