Heaths “Pay It Forward” with Cancer Care Pack Program

After more than 30 years of dedicating her life to educating and supporting cancer patients, Jean Heath, long-time former director of Upper Valley Medical Center Cancer Care, found herself on the other side of the table. She was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2015 and, after successful treatment, is cancer free. However, her husband, Ken, was diagnosed with stage four esophageal cancer earlier this year and, sadly, after a valiant struggle with the disease, passed away in December. 

While battling Ken’s cancer together, the couple launched a new initiative, in partnership with Upper Valley Medical Center Foundation, to support UVMC cancer patients. Ken was the recipient of the Scott Arnold Golf Benefit held earlier this year and donated the money to the UVMC foundation to start a Cancer Care Pack program that will offer cancer patients backpacks filled with necessities, such as blankets, water bottles, uplifting books, and journals, to make their infusions and chemotherapy treatments a little more comfortable.

“Receiving treatment is a very long and exhaustive process,” said Jean. “The donation from Arnold’s golf event presented us with an opportunity to pay it forward and give people, just like us, a backpack that would hopefully make their day just a little bit easier.”

Anyone who would like to donate to the Cancer Care Pack initiative and/or cancer care at UVMC can reach out to Duanna Osting, president, Upper Valley Medical Center Foundation, at (937) 440-7634 or drosting@premierhealth.com.

Back to the January 2023 issue of Premier Pulse