“Where would people be if they didn’t have this
facility?”
Christmas is a time of
joy but for many, it is also a time made harder by a cancer
diagnosis. At the Cancer Society’s Lions Lodge in
Hamilton, there is no stopping for Christmas or lazy summer
days as guests arrive from around the region for their
life-saving treatment.
Waikato resident Barbara
Crawford is staying at the while being treated for head and
neck cancer at Waikato Hospital and says having it as her
base means she can focus on her recovery.
“My
treatments are five days a week for six weeks. I just feel
at ease walking in the door even though I don’t know the
journey ahead. The staff make it seamless and it takes the
pressure off getting to appointments. The staff have
beautiful hearts and nothing is too much trouble.
“I
don’t have a big network of support and it’s a lot to
ask somebody to do day in, day out for five days a week,
with an hour of travel each way.”
Crawford’s
cancer started in her saliva glands and has since spread
throughout her tongue and adrenal lymph
nodes.
“It’s not an easy cancer to get. The
treatment, they say, is up there. So during the week, I
focus on myself and my treatment. Then at the weekends, I
can go home and be a nan.”
Crawford adds that being
at the Lodge helps her connect with others on a similar
journey and has made her aware of available
support.
Lodge manager Henny Swinkels says the festive
season can be especially difficult for guests who are going
through a gruelling treatment programme while far from their
loved ones.
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“This is one of the hardest times of the
year for our guests. Thankfully, we have more than 40
volunteers who give up their time to help staff make the
Lodge a ‘home away from home’. We also have a regular
rota of baking from our volunteers that never fails to bring
some festive cheer.”
Earlier this year, increasing
demand resulted in the Lodge opening seven days a week.
Numbers have since reached an unprecedented high, with more
than double the occupancy rate of five years ago.
The
Cancer Society Waikato/Bay of Plenty is not directly
government-funded and relies on the generosity of donors to
keep its doors open all year round.
“Where would
people be if they didn’t have this facility? That’s
quite a scary question to ask. Not only the emotional side
of it but the financial as well” says Crawford.
“I
take my hat off to all the ladies and gentlemen who work
here or volunteer. They help to make life a bit easier for
us. They’re all very caring and it’s from the
heart.”
Make a special gift to Cancer
Society’s Lions Lodge this Christmas and help bring joy
and comfort to people with cancer during the toughest of
times. Visit www.cancer.org.nz/donate-here
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