Chemo Buddies

“Because no one should ever have to go through chemo alone.”  – Karen Williams

When you walk into the Infusion Center at Deaconess Henderson Hospital, you can find patients needing treatment for different health reasons – one treatment in particular is chemotherapy. Surrounded by the amazing nurses and caregivers, these patients undergo a lot of time spent at the center receiving treatments. But – a way in which community members are able to give back to those going through a hard time is through Chemo Buddies. This program allows volunteers to come into the Infusion Center and sit with those who are receiving chemo. The Chemo Buddies are there to serve snacks, pass out blankets, and be a comforting friend during treatment to the chemo patients and their families. 

Mike Russ, a Chemo Buddy with Henderson Deaconess Hospital, said, “I enjoy seeing the smiles on the patients faces as we interact with them – bring them drinks and snacks, blankets and pillows – and take time to talk to them about whatever is on their mind. I also enjoy relieving the wonderful nurses of some of the more mundane tasks – cleaning chairs, seeing to patients non-medical requests – so they can concentrate their efforts on doing the things for patients that volunteers cannot do. Although volunteering in a unit where people are undergoing chemo and dealing with its daily affects on their lives can be difficult, I make a lot of friends and see many more successes than losses.”

Chemo Buddies offers other programs/events to help assist their patients such as Shuttle Buddies, the Mermaid Squad and HopeFest. But – one program some of our local children are volunteering their time to is the Student Buddies program.

The Student Buddies Program  

Student Buddies is a program in which local students meet once a month to make something special for those undergoing chemo. It is a way to teach the younger generation about giving and helping those in need. Kara Cobb, second grade teacher at Niagara Elementary, said this is a small way for the kids to say, “We are thinking of you and praying for you.”

Mrs. Cobb became involved with Student Buddies about eight years ago when Laney Ford introduced her to the program. Mrs. Cobb had Laney’s daughter in class at Bend Gate Elementary at the time and knew Mrs. Cobb’s brother was going through chemotherapy and thought it might be a program she would be interested in becoming involved with. Laney funded the program the first year and planned all of the activities while Mrs. Cobb assisted. “She has the sweetest soul,” Mrs. Cobb said. “She made a quilt, and we auctioned that off at one of our fundraisers at school and that was the funds for my first and second years doing this program.” Mrs. Cobb took over after that first year and has been having a group every year since – except during covid. 

Mrs. Cobb moved to Niagara Elementary last year and continued the program with a group of third graders who volunteer their time. The group meets 4-5 times throughout the school year, depending on their funds. The group has the option of holding a fundraiser, but most parents prefer to donate. Mrs. Cobb asks that parents/students who volunteer donate $30 to go towards the program and the supplies needed. 

There are a lot of opportunities for fourth and fifth graders at Niagara, so it was decided this opportunity would be open to third graders. Any third grader that wants to volunteer may join the group at the beginning of the year. It always works out that Mrs. Cobb has 10-12 kids who want to participate. They meet after school for 1 hour and 20 minutes to make the gifts. “I have them fill out an application and why they should be part of it. It’s sweet,” expressed the grateful teacher. Mrs. Cobb will deliver the items her group of students make to the Infusion Center at Deaconess Henderson Hospital for the Chemo Buddies to pass out to the patients. They leave a note letting them know they are cheering them on! 

Support Outside of the Treatment Room 

Mrs. Cobb met Mike when she was introduced to this program. Mike explained, “Student Buddies started in Evansville at one of the elementary schools. It came to Henderson when Kara Cobb contacted us after hearing about the program and wanted to start one at her school, Bend Gate Elementary. When she moved to Niagara Elementary School, she took the program there.  I have been a Chemo Buddy since its inception. When then Methodist Hospital remodeled an older area into a new infusion center, they asked if we were interested in having the program there. We felt it was a good fit due to the wonderful staff at the hospital. Since I already lived in Henderson, I asked to move over to Henderson from OHA in Evansville,” Mike said. 

Mike comes to the first meeting each year to kick off the new group. He explains how Chemo Buddies are adults that volunteer at the Infusion Center where chemo patients come for their treatments and what Student Buddies do. Mrs. Cobb stated, “He brings a little teddy bear that we keep as a mascot for the year. We learn what chemo is, how it’s given, side effects, and how hard it is to go through treatment.”

In November, the students made turkeys out of Little Debbie Crème pies. In December, they made Rudolphs out of Hershey bars and origami tea bag holders for mint tea. In January, they painted encouraging messages on wood slices for magnets and put together bags of lemon heads. These are just a few of the small gifts these students make to send to the chemo patients. “Student Buddies are not allowed at the Infusion Center, so we share sunshine in other ways!” Mrs. Cobb noted that she has gift ideas she tends to do most years now that she has been doing this for a while, but she is always brainstorming new ideas they can swap out. Each time the students meet, their goal is to try to make anywhere from 50-60 gifts/packages. 

Mike stated, “It’s amazing how these young children really get into making the days brighter for our patients with their wonderful gifts. They really brighten our patients’ days knowing that these young people care about them and want to make their days happier. Kara and her students do real work and never cease to amaze me.”

A Heart of Giving

Mrs. Cobb’s brother and dad both had to undergo chemo in different areas and neither had anything like this program that was put in place for them, so this is something Mrs. Cobb is very passionate about. “It’s a good introduction and some say they are going to keep making stuff. They aren’t allowed in, but it’s still sweet,” she said.  The joy this program brings to her students each year is incredible. Their hearts are full of giving to others.  

Some of Mrs. Cobb’s students shared what the Student Buddies program means to them: 

Piper Ankran – “I like making people happy and making them feel like they have someone to care about them.” 

McKenzie Skaggs – “Yea, I think that’s what all of us think about whenever we hear them be happy, and they’re happy for what we made for them. I really like when we do a lot of the art and stuff because I really like doing art.”

Macey Puryear – “I like making people’s day in the hospital and making them feel better.” 

Mrs. Cobb expressed, “My heart is there, but I have been thinking of other things we could do.” There are needs everywhere, and she loves seeing the students share their talents and giving back to others. Bend Gate Elementary was the first school in Henderson to participate in the Student Buddies program, and Niagara Elementary is currently the only school in Henderson that participates since Mrs. Cobb moved there. “It wasn’t my claim to fame, it just seemed like the right thing to do,” Mrs. Cobb noted. 

The kind-hearted teacher said, “Life can be so hard.  Adding a challenging diagnosis to one’s life magnifies this point.  Student Buddies mission is simple:  If we can put a smile on someone’s face, if we can make someone realize there’s someone out there that cares about what they are going through, then we have accomplished our mission.”

Deaconess Henderson Infusion Center is currently looking for volunteers to serve on Wednesday from 9am – 12pm or Friday from 9am-12pm. Volunteers with Chemo Buddies are needed to be available to commit to a once weekly 3-hour shift on the same day each week, have an active email and Facebook account and are not currently in active treatment. For more information or to apply, you may visit chemobuddies.org/volunteer.