The donation of three recliners to the oncology clinic at Cayman Islands Hospital will make all the difference to cancer patients requiring long sessions of chemotherapy.
When informed of the need for the furniture, the Cayman Islands Cancer Society approached The Furniture Depot last week about purchasing a recliner. Within 48 hours, not only was the society able to buy one chair at a substantial discount, but the store donated two others to the clinic. The furniture was officially handed over Monday, 26 September.
Christine Sanders, education and officer manager of CICS, was happy to get involved.
‘The cancer society is there to support cancer patients any way we can. This is a perfect way to do that,’ Ms Sanders said.
Shirley Roulstone, manager of The Furniture Depot, was also pleased to help.
‘At The Furniture Depot, we are sensitive to the needs of others, and the elderly and infirm are near and dear to our hearts. That we have been able to help the Cayman Islands Cancer Society with their tremendous efforts has been personally gratifying for each of us,’ Ms Roulstone said.
The staff at the clinic was thrilled to receive the chairs on behalf of the patients. During chemotherapy, patients need to take medicine intravenously for anywhere from one to seven hours.
Up until this donation, there was one recliner available in the treatment room and the rest of the patients had to sit in straight-backed chairs for the duration of each IV session.
Cyndy Ebanks, a nurse at the oncology clinic, could barely contain her joy at seeing the new furniture.
‘We’re so very grateful to the cancer society and our patients will be so appreciative,’ she said.
Ms Sanders spoke of the response of the nurses to the donation.
‘Seeing the reaction of the staff really makes it all worthwhile. Seeing how they appreciate it and what it means to them,’ she said.
Ms Roulstone, who attended the official handover of the chairs with Lisa Ebanks, the company’s senior sales associate, believes it is the responsibility of businesses here to give something back to the community.
‘We didn’t realise that they didn’t have these comforts so we jumped at the chance to help,’ she said.
Ms Sanders was glad to get the extra assistance.
‘We want to thank The Furniture Depot for partnering with us in this venture to support the cancer patients in our community. Through their generosity, the room is now equipped and patients can have their chemotherapy in comfort,’ Ms Sanders said.
Along with the recliners, the society has contributed a portable CD player/radio and a member of the CICS has donated a television with a built-in DVD player and VCR.
Nurse Juline Black at the clinic knows the donated furniture will mean a lot to the patients.
‘This is a blessing. The patients are going through such trauma as it is, that (we will) do anything we can to make them more comfortable. The cancer society is absolutely fantastic. I don’t know what we’d do without them. We’re so grateful,’ she said.
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