Emerson Auxiliary Making a Difference for Bethke Patients

Bethke Cancer Center offers our community the best in cancer care with expert, state-of-the art treatment and the latest technology. The Center strives to provide not only the best possible treatment, but also to do everything possible to give patients a caring and comfortable setting in which to undergo their treatment.

To support this effort, the Emerson Hospital Auxiliary recently donated $18,000 to the Bethke Cancer Center. This donation will support patient care programs. Along with this monetary donation however, the Auxiliary also felt it important to support patients directly. The comfort quilts gift program, which was started in 2005, donates quilts to cancer patients receiving chemotherapy and radiation. For the year 2007-2008, 137 quilts were lovingly made and donated—bringing the total number of quilts donated to 326. Several quilt making individuals and groups contribute to this effort including Concord Piece-makers, Material Girls, and Wayside Quilters. Rosaria T. Colosi, a breast cancer survivor and Auxiliary member also contributed significantly to this effort.

This year, the Auxiliary also donated thirty-six “anti-ouch pillows” to Bethke. These pillows, easily mistaken for a shoulder bag, are hand-made pillows that can be worn under the arm of patients to minimize the discomfort of cancer therapy or surgery. The effort was coordinated by Auxiliary member Mary Mahaney and the pillows were made by a group of 20 ladies at a sew-a-thon held at the Haartz Corporation in Acton. The majority of attendees were from the Boston Chapter of the American Sewing Guild. The anti-ouch pouches were distributed to Radiation Oncology, Medical Oncology and to the surgeon’s offices at Emerson.

The Auxiliary also provides each chemotherapy patient at Bethke with a gift certificate for 5 acupuncture treatments, and has also donated a sound system, head sets, relaxation CD’s, and Breast Cancer Handbooks for the treatment center.

According to Margaret Koch, Cancer Center Administrator for Bethke: “Through these additional supports, patients connect with the heart and soul of community members who’s gifts encourage them in their struggle and perhaps inspire them to find strength on a day when they had little. The Auxiliary’s generous contribution has helped to support Emerson in making Bethke Cancer Center a real jewel in our community.”

The Emerson Hospital Auxiliary supports Emerson Hospital through a wide variety of activities ranging from more intimate members-only gatherings to large events open to the public. If you like to organize, create, cook, network, write, edit, speak in public, or just contribute to your community, the Auxiliary welcomes your participation. Anyone interested in learning more about the Auxiliary should contact Karen McCarthy at 978-371-2133 for more information.