Many cancer patients from Hawaii Island face weeks or months of treatment away from home. At the same time, they often struggle to manage medical bills and other financial burdens. These burdens leave many patients unable to afford travel so
Many cancer patients from Hawaii Island face weeks or months of treatment away from home. At the same time, they often struggle to manage medical bills and other financial burdens. These burdens leave many patients unable to afford travel so they might forgo treatment all together.
Today, we are proud to announce the American Cancer Society’s Clarence T.C. Ching Hope Lodge will open November 2016 in Honolulu. Once built, the Hope Lodge will offer free, temporary lodging for cancer patients and their caregivers who must travel far from home for treatment. By not having to worry about the availability or expense of a hotel, patients will be able to focus on recovery in a warm, secure environment where they are embraced with support from staff and the other guests who are sharing the cancer journey.
Being touched by cancer myself, I know the struggle is real, and you often are faced with so many challenges that your treatment choice is compromised. Though I’ve been cancer free for seven years, my journey still is fresh in my mind. It’s hard enough to fight the cancer but also having to overcome the challenges of travel to Oahu is truly a heavy burden that no one should have to bear.
When you hear the words, “You have cancer,” you face unchartered waters. You immediately feel a rush of emotions of shock, anger and, most of all, fear — wondering if you will survive. Then, your journey begins. Your calendar is quickly filled with appointments with various doctors and a slew of tests, X-rays and scans. You become so overwhelmed trying to balance this new change into your home life and career. Now, imagine coordinating all of this and being told you will need to seek medical care away from home. You begin the painful search of finding the care you need and trying to schedule all the various appointments into a single day.
I remember my first travel to Oahu. I planned every detail and gave everyone an itinerary before my husband, Milton, and I left for Oahu. Our day began by waking at 4 a.m. We parked at the airport and checked in. Once we arrived on Oahu, we picked up our rental car and ran into the unforgiving traffic. We circled the hospital parking structure searching for a parking space, met with the doctor, paid an unexpected parking fee and sped off to the next appointment. Again, we circled the parking structure searching for a space. After meeting with the doctor, I was given the dreadful news that I had an advanced stage cancer and was given my options. Disbelief set in as I tried to absorb the news. More tests were needed, one of which could be done only on Oahu. It was already late in the afternoon, and the thought of heading out to Kapiolani Hospital made us cringe because we knew that traffic would be heavy and there was a chance we would not make our flight. I remember barely making it to the airport. Exhausted and overwhelmed, we boarded our plane and headed home.
My story is just one of many. I look back and am so thankful to my husband, family and friends who supported me through my journey. That is why today it is a privilege for me to serve as a volunteer with the American Cancer Society and partner with our community to help others dealing with cancer.
Local organizations, foundations, companies and families have contributed almost $12 million to date, but the society still needs our help to raise $100,000 more to reach its goal. That’s why I’m urging our community to support Hope Lodge. Visit hopelodgehawaii.org to learn more and donate, or text the word “LODGE” to 41444.
Debra-Jean “Debbie” Kenui of Hilo is a two-time breast cancer survivor and American Cancer Society volunteer.
