For many, the holiday season is filled with joy and happiness as they carve out time to engage in holiday traditions with family and friends.
However, for those on a cancer journey, the holidays can be filled with a mix of emotions as they undergo treatment or start to navigate their new lives as cancer survivors.
It is for this reason and more that Stephanie, along with the members of the Young Survivors Group (Amelia, Megan, Kathryn, Megan, Erin and Alison) set out to begin a new favorite holiday tradition: gifting connection, community and hope to cancer patients.
In 2016, Stephanie was diagnosed with breast cancer and received treatment at the Polly and Bill Van Dyke Cancer Center, located at Ascension Columbia St. Mary’s Milwaukee, where she recalls having an “exceptional, personalized and thoughtful care team and plan.”
“When I originally got diagnosed, my nurse navigator told me, ‘we have you set up with a dream team’ and she was right,” Stephanie shared. “I honestly cannot say enough good things about my oncologist, Dr. Shah. She is absolutely fabulous and has a holistic view of caring for her patients, treating cancer but also checking in on mental and physical health and creating a personal connection.”
While on her cancer journey, Stephanie met an incredible group of fellow breast cancer warriors and survivors through Ascension Wisconsin who supported her every step of the way. The women met through different phases of their own treatments and have since formed an unbreakable bond.
Today, Stephanie is grateful for the incredible sisterhood she created with the women of the Young Survivors Group.
“We started as a group of four and added over the years,” Stephanie shared. “The bond that has grown with us is really unique. We are grateful to have support systems in our lives but there is nothing like having the support of someone who has walked in your shoes. It's one of the best silver linings in a challenging situation.”
For the past seven years, the Young Survivors Group has thought of creative ways to help bring holiday cheer to patients undergoing cancer treatment. The tradition began by sharing encouraging messages with patients and has grown and evolved in the years since.
This year, the Young Survivors Group created 50 holiday gift bags for patients at the Polly and Bill Van Dyke Cancer Centers at Ascension Columbia St. Mary’s Milwaukee and Ozaukee campuses.
Each basket contains a variety of care items including a coffee mug, tea, hand sanitizer, lip balm, anti-nausea candies and a holiday card signed by each member of the Young Survivors Group.
By creating the gift bags, the Young Survivors Group hopes to bring comfort and a sense of connection to patients on their own cancer journeys.
“We have been supportive of one another and this has inspired us to create these gift bags at the places we got such great care,” Stephanie said. “If we can offer a piece of this community and connection to someone else, that’s what makes it worth it. Kindness during turbulent times can go a really long way.”