Just two months after her annual mammography test came back clear, UC Medical Center nurse Sheri Lewis noticed a peanut-sized lump on her breast. A single mom with two teenagers, she was scared and knew something wasn’t quite right.
She immediately began chemotherapy at the UC Health Physicians Office–Clifton.
“I wanted it to be done with this chapter in my life,” said Sheri.
On the first day of treatment, she packed her own bag with a blanket and some snacks to keep her comfortable during the several-hour therapy session.
When she returned to work the following Monday, her colleague and “second-mom,” Barb Ehrhardt, had put a gift on her desk. It was a handmade “comfort chemo bag” that Sheri could use for her remaining chemo treatments.
Though Sheri didn’t know what exactly would make her feel better, Barb did. Barb’s daughter was going through the same chemotherapy journey.
In the bag was a fleece blanket to keep Sheri warm, a padded seat belt cover to protect her chemotherapy port, lip moisturizer, hard candies for her changing taste buds, a notepad and pencil, a pillow for comfort and a water bottle for hydration.
The contents of the bag—obviously filled with close attention to detail—made Sheri feel like someone knew exactly what she might need.
