Whitewater Times

Fort HealthCare has announced a $4,000 grant from Tomorrow’s Hope to fund 75 personalized care packages for breast cancer patients in its Breast Care Program. These packages are intended to provide emotional and medical support during treatment.

The initiative aims to alleviate some of the burdens faced by these patients through thoughtfully curated items that offer comfort and guidance. Each package will contain practical tools such as pocket calendars for scheduling appointments, guided journals for emotional expression, weighted eye masks, socks, and other comforting items. This project aligns with Tomorrow’s Hope’s mission to support individuals facing life-limiting illnesses with both immediate and long-term care.

“Every patient diagnosed with breast cancer is unique with their own story,” said Allison Wisch, RN, Breast Program Care Coordinator at Fort HealthCare. “Thanks to Tomorrow’s Hope, we can create personalized care packages that address their individual needs. Our intention is to remind them they are supported by our Breast Care team, but more importantly, that cancer does not define who they are. Each patient is special to our team, and we strive to make their journey as smooth as possible. A meaningful gift like this can go a long way when life takes an unexpected turn.”

This effort highlights Fort HealthCare's commitment to enhancing patient care through community collaboration. “We are deeply grateful to Tomorrow’s Hope for their continued partnership and support,” said Jamie Clementi, MD, General Surgeon and Fellowship-Trained Breast Surgeon at Fort HealthCare. “These care packages will provide an essential lifeline for our patients during a challenging time, offering not just physical items but the emotional reassurance that they are not alone in their fight against breast cancer.”

Tomorrow’s Hope has historically collaborated with Fort Memorial Hospital on initiatives such as the Paxman Scalp Cooling System for chemotherapy patients and various fundraising efforts including Hoops for Hope events. “We are thrilled to be part of this impactful project,” said Todd Wiedenhoeft, Executive Director at Tomorrow’s Hope. “It’s a privilege to support Fort Memorial Hospital’s efforts to provide compassionate care and emotional support to those battling breast cancer in our community.”

Serving 50-60 breast cancer patients annually—a number expected to rise—Fort Memorial Hospital plans the first distribution of these care packages starting January 2025. Ongoing distributions will continue through 2025 and 2026 as new patients begin treatments.

Fort Memorial Hospital remains committed to improving community health outcomes through partnerships like this one with Tomorrow's Hope.