Legal Resource Center staff lifts spirits with gift bags
By Kate Roherty, Library Associate, Milwaukee Legal Resource Center
The Milwaukee Legal Resource Center staff, along with other courthouse employees, attorneys, family and friends, demonstrated support of cancer patients during the Christmas season.
On behalf of our co-worker and friend, Rebecca Knutson, who is currently receiving chemotherapy at the Oncology Alliance at Columbia St. Mary's Hospital, a gift bag was assembled for each patient who receives treatment at the clinic.
According to Rebecca: "Since being diagnosed last May, I have been receiving weekly chemotherapy treatments. I know how difficult and depressing the hours in the chemo chair can be, and the side effects and other complications of cancer can be devastating. But I am amazed every day at how incredibly kind people have been in offering me their help, support, prayers and love, and I am so grateful for their care and concern.
"Thankfully at this time I am still able to work and do many of my regular activities but whenever there has been a need, someone has stepped forward. Many people have volunteered to come with me and support me during my weekly sessions. Kate Roherty came up with the idea of sharing this overwhelming kindness and generosity with other patients."
The project began as we brainstormed a way to try to have a positive impact on patients as they received treatment during the week of Christmas. Thinking there would be maybe 20 patients, we decided on a gift bag for each person containing items to help make the treatment a little easier.
After checking with the clinic we were shocked to learn that at least 60 people receive treatment for cancer at CSM each week. We were unsure how to proceed. Should we scale back the number of people who would get a bag, or give them something smaller?
Then people around us who knew about Rebecca's situation came forward and got involved by giving their time, talents or donations for the bags. Said State Law Librarian Jane Colwin: "It was such a great idea, I couldn't help but contribute."
Together we knew we could provide a bag for each patient and they would be as wonderful as we had imagined. Each bag contained candy, a Christmas ornament, gift card to Barnes & Noble or Schwartz Bookshops, homemade Christmas cookies and a holiday mug.
Each patient was given a bag as they checked in and they were able to enjoy the contents while receiving treatment. Rebecca's oncologist Dr. Scott Maul had this to say: "You would not believe what a difference this made for people. The fact that a person going through chemotherapy went to the effort of reaching out to others going through the same process meant a lot and touched many hearts."
Nurses and patients shared with us the impact that the bags had on people, saying how their demeanor brightened and how amazed they were that people they had never met could do such a kind and generous thing for them at a time when it was badly needed.
Once we saw the impact the gift bags had on the patients we pledged to do it again next Christmas. We invite anyone who would like to be involved by giving their time, talents or donations of items or money to e-mail either Rebecca or Kate or call the Milwaukee Legal Resource Center at (414) 278-4322. We would sincerely like to thank everyone who contributed. We spent a very enjoyable Sunday afternoon putting the bags together. The results were powerful and moving to everyone who was involved. Thanks to all for making the project such a huge success.
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