Brothers Provide Turkeys to James Graham Brown Cancer Center Patients - Archived
Louisville, Ky. (November 27, 2013)—Patients receiving treatment at the James Graham Brown Cancer Center Bone Marrow Transplant Center, part of KentuckyOne Health, received a special Thanksgiving surprise from another local family today.
Two brothers, Alex and Tommy Gift, lost their mother to a 20-plus year battle with cancer. In her memory, they established the Mary Jane Gift Quality of Life Fund. The brothers joined with Cesar Rodriguez, M.D., Bone Marrow Transplant Unit at the James Graham Brown Cancer Center and University of Louisville Assistant Professor of Medicine, to distribute turkeys to more than twenty patients receiving care at the Bone Marrow Transplant (BMT) Clinic, just in time for the holiday.
Patients at the BMT Clinic are battling blood cancers such as leukemia, lymphoma and multiple myeloma.
“This is truly a blessing,” said BMT patient Todd Beasley. “ We have always been treated like family at the James Graham Brown Cancer Center. The care and emotional support is first class and it’s another reason we are thankful this year.”
“Cancer treatment can be costly and leave many families with little resources during the holidays,” said Dr. Rodriguez. “We are thankful for the support of the Gift family to help provide turkeys, the centerpiece of a Thanksgiving meal, to our patients during this holiday season.”
The Mary Jane Gift Quality of Life Fund was established this year to provide funds to help improve the lives of patients undergoing cancer treatment and their families. Money from the Fund may be used for family entertainment, transportation to/from the cancer center for treatment, assistance in covering household expenses and other expenses that can cause undue hardship on patients and their families.
“We experienced how cancer treatment can impact a family throughout my mother’s illness,” said Alex Gift. “Establishing this fund in her memory is our way of giving back to those who supported us and helping improve the lives of others battling cancer.”
Photo information: Alex Gift shakes the hand of BMT patient Todd Beasley at the James Graham Brown Cancer Center, part of KentuckyOne Health.
About KentuckyOne Health
KentuckyOne Health was formed when two major Kentucky health care organizations came together in early 2012. KentuckyOne Health combines the Jewish and Catholic heritages of the two former systems – Jewish Hospital & St. Mary’s HealthCare and Saint Joseph Health System. In late 2012, the organization formed a partnership with the University of Louisville Hospital | James Graham Brown Cancer Center. The nonprofit system is committed to improving the health of Kentuckians by integrating medical research, education, technology and health care services wherever patients receive care. KentuckyOne Health has more than 200 locations including hospitals, physician groups, clinics, primary care centers, specialty institutes and home health agencies, with nearly 15,000 employees across the state of Kentucky and southern Indiana. KentuckyOne Health is the largest health system in Kentucky.
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Publish date:
Wednesday, November 27, 2013