Foundation transforms oft-neglected treatment area
A local nonprofit seeks to relieve discomfort for patients with cancer in a phase of the treatment process that can be overlooked. Coordinating with hospital administrators and guided by patients and staff, Jamie’s Wish Foundation transforms outpatient oncology clinics at the request of patients receiving chemotherapy by infusion.
“Treatments can last from 30 minutes to all day,” says Kelli Alldredge, foundation vice president and co-founder. “We make the environment as pleasant as possible.”
The foundation is fundraising for a new project, building on the success of their first infusion center makeover. In March 2012, the organization completed renovations begun in August 2011 at Lawrence Memorial Hospital Oncology Center in Lawrence, Kan.
Impressed by the transformation, Andy Tyhurst, a patient in Kansas City last year approached Jamie’s Wish Foundation. He proposed the organization work its magic at the University of Kansas Cancer Center North where he was receiving chemotherapy infusion.
“Andy knew his days were limited. He wanted to make the cancer journey better for someone else so we got the wheels in motion,” Alldredge says. “Andy picked out the furniture and the color scheme he thought patients would enjoy.”
Tyhurst passed away in July 2017. A month later, Jamie’s Wish Foundation officially launched the fundraising campaign. Since August, it’s raised $150,000 toward the $800,000 goal for renovating the chemotherapy infusion area at KU’s Cancer Center North.
The foundation board met with the center’s facilities director and other administrators and staff. The foundation’s interior design team then drafted three model floor plans. Together, cancer center staff and the foundation board chose one.
“They’ve been very, very supportive and great to work with,” Alldredge says.
Renovations to the infusion area will include new, more soothing flooring and softer, more calming lighting. Patients will take infusion treatments in plush, new easy-to-clean power lift recliners that can tilt completely flat. Their guests and the center staff, respectively, will have comfortable new furniture and more convenient equipment and work seating. Patient and nurse feedback guided the project’s every aspect.
“We invited patients to tell us what they wanted,” Alldredge says. “We met with nurses as well, and they had a lot of input.”
Bookshelves, flat screen televisions and artwork are among planned amenities. The foundation will undertake the renovations in phases to avoid disrupting the care of 1,100 patients treated at the center monthly.
Jamie’s Wish Foundation is an all-volunteer nonprofit founded in 2011 to create healing- conducive infusion center environments. Founders Alldredge and Aimee Jackson Chadwick are carrying out the final wishes of a longtime dear friend, Jamie Barkes Pursley who died at age 35.
“A ball of fire who always had great ideas and always wanted to be involved,” Pursley spent countless hours receiving chemotherapy at Lawrence Memorial Hospital Oncology center. She wanted to make the infusion areas more comfortable, calming, relaxing and healing for patients and their families.
“When Jamie knew she was out of time, she asked if we’d carry on her wish,” Alldredge says.
Experience had taught Pursley the therapeutic value of a healing environment, which research supports. Based on survey findings, the “Journal of Interior Design” reported in January 2017 that patients with access to more comfortable, pleasing infusion environments experience “significantly lower levels of stress and greater hope for successful treatment.”
“That’s what drives our foundation,” Alldredge says. “Our hope is that we can provide a comfortable and inspiring environment while patients are going through treatment because we know it’s a scary time. Patients are really heroes. They’re our inspiration.”
To learn more about the foundation, visit its website https://www.jamieswish.org/, and if you wish to make donations, click on “Donate”.
