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The regular session of the Virginia General Assembly (GA) adjourned on March 9 in Richmond, but contributions made during it will make a lasting impact on patients at VCU Massey Comprehensive Cancer Center.

On Feb. 22, more than a dozen pages from the Virginia House of Delegates visited Massey to drop off an estimated 170 comfort kits they assembled for patients in active treatment. Each kit includes items like hard candy, tissues, activity books and other essentials that can be used to reduce stress and anxiety during appointments.

Becky Massey, patient advocate and Advisory Board chair at the cancer center, was on hand to accept the donation.

“It takes a village to help our community,” Becky acknowledged, thanking the pages for thinking of Massey for their service project during the GA session. “The great news about cancer is the advances made every single hour of every single day. People diagnosed today have more options for their treatment.”

Amanda Landes, CAVS, CDVS, the director of volunteer services at VCU Health, explained that leaders from the House Page Program initially called her office to learn how they could help.
 
“Volunteers will distribute the kits to patients and possibly caregivers to provide them with items of comfort and activities while they are waiting or receiving treatment,” said Landes.

She and Samantha Rosko, the new senior volunteer coordinator, greeted the pages and expressed their appreciation for the comfort kits.

The pages, who are all 13- or 14-years-old, then shared their inspirations for the service project.

Jude Hardy: “I lost my brother to cancer in 2016, and this is just really important to me. Even though I was young when it happened, I remember some things given to us. It was important to my family, and hopefully [this donation] will do something big for everybody.”

Ethan Dotto: “My grandmother had cancer and still struggles with it. I’m hopeful she gets better with all the help she is getting.”

Tal Horton: “All of these people are going through a really tough time, and they need these things more than I would. I just wanted to help them get through this time.”

Elijah Halterman: “Before I was born, we lost my grandfather to lung cancer. And I am so happy that I can help the community, now others who have cancer.”

Genevieve Cortazzo: “These are people that have family and friends. This is a great way to help our fellow human.”

Cameron Slemp: “I love helping my community as much as I can, and I know it is impacting these people in a positive way.”

Luke Hudson: “My grandmother had breast cancer, and a close friend of ours died of leukemia just two weeks after diagnosis.”

During their visit to Massey, the pages had an opportunity to learn more about the Integrative Health program and The Healing Space.

During their visit to the VCU Health Adult Outpatient Pavilion, the pages had an opportunity to learn more about Massey’s Integrative Health program and The Healing Space, a unique room that offers an immersive, calming experience for patients, caregivers and staff.

During a tour of The Healing Space, Becky told them the room – featuring a 9-by-16-foot curved LED display wall, 13 hidden speakers and customizable lighting – is the only-of-its-kind at a National Cancer Institute-designated comprehensive cancer center, and others across the country are now interested in adding the technology to their facilities.

“As you can imagine, this space helps our patients take some time away from whatever they are dealing with on that day. They can virtually go anywhere,” Becky said as she cycled through some of the scenes and lighting available for a customized experience in The Healing Space. “This room and your comfort kits help us treat the whole person, not just their cancer.”

All items included in the comfort kits came directly from delegates, staff members and the pages’ families.

This service project was part of the non-partisan House Page Program that started in 1847. It offers a civics education, leadership development and daily work experiences to Speaker-appointed youth during the GA regular session. 

Written by: Amy Lacey