Busiest quarter of the year for me, not much time to research online ideas. However, this small blessing came via Facebook, The Pampered Patient. It immediately struck a chord with me because my mother was afflicted with a form of this malady. Early this morning, I awoke with tears in my eyes thinking about how she suffered whilst bedridden and the fact that most gifts didn’t have any relevance to her during her illness.
Although lonely for my best friend, I thank goodness that she no longer has to endure being a prisoner of her own body. Mother would be seeking to help somebody else if she were here. Therefore, if passing on this information to just one person in her name makes a difference, it’s worth it.
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Did you know that there is a special deodorant for cancer patients undergoing radiation? That Biotene mouthwash can help heal mouth sores, a common side effect of chemotherapy? That Lindi Skin is specially formulated for a cancer patient’s sensitive skin? That there are free websites that make it easier to schedule help? That Travel Scrabble can be a welcome change to hospital tv programming? The resources, products, and gifts at The Pampered Patient are geared toward the specific needs of cancer patients and caregivers. We have been through it ourselves. We’ve discovered ways to manage treatment side effects, reduce misery and get practical advice. Spend some time on our site to discover what we’ve learned, to recommend your own discoveries, or just to tell us your story. No one should have to face cancer alone. Now, no one has to.
The Pampered Patient Story
The Pampered Patient is a passionate response to what founder Tricia Harding encountered while her Mom, Irene, battled Ovarian Cancer and her husband, Dalton, took on Esophageal Cancer. As a caregiver for them both, Tricia gained intimate knowledge of the particular concerns of both cancer patients and their caregivers. She also discovered just how challenging and overwhelming it can be to try to meet those needs.
“Early on in my husband’s illness, the doctor had given us a list of four or five things we should have before beginning treatment. I took our six-month-old son, Iain, on what I thought would be a simple shopping trip. We drove to six different locations and covered over 200 miles before I had found everything. By the time we got home, my son was screaming, my husband was anxious, and I was overwhelmed. That was the first time I thought, ’Surely, there is a better way.’”
The Pampered Patient hopes to ease the burden that patients, caregivers, and concerned friends feel when someone is diagnosed with cancer. Most people, including patients, don’t realize that there are a host of practical items that can actually help make cancer and its effects more livable. At thepamperedpatient.com, anyone with a desire to help can locate products and gifts designed for cancer patients and caregivers. Visitors can connect with over 100 specific cancer websites for information, read personal accounts of others facing similar battles, and find practical tools to help manage the day to day needs of living with cancer. By working with local oncologists, The Pampered Patient aspires to offer the most useful selection of products for an array of cancers.
Cancer invades your entire life – not just your physical body. Irene and Dalton lost their battles to this insidious disease. However, by offering help through The Pampered Patient, Tricia and Iain hope their experiences can be a blessing to those who are still battling by helping make cancer livable in every way. If you have any suggestions as to how The Pampered Patient can be improved to help others, please don’t hesitate to contact us at tharding@thepamperedpatient.com.
