By Kelly Carmody | Digital Content and Social Media Specialist
When Bill walks into the Children’s Cancer Association (CCA), he greets just about everyone in the office on a first name basis. He’s easy-going, understanding, and a great conversationalist. He loves his job as a Portland realtor and finds joy in golfing, music, gardening, and his family. He’s also a CCA Chemo Pal extraordinaire, having been matched with five Chemo Pals over the past eleven years.
“I heard about CCA when I was transitioning from school teacher to realtor. I was new to the community and had some flexible time, so I wanted to give back.
I kept driving by CCA's office building and seeing the purple heart. One day, I was driving along the freeway, and there was a billboard with the purple heart again, so I decided to look it up online! I came across the Chemo Pal Mentor program (link), and it piqued my interest," Bill remembered.
Bill sat on the idea for a few days, but it wasn’t long before he decided to pick up the phone and call. Eleven years later, he’s still glad he did.
Becoming a Mentor
“I made the decision to be a Chemo Pal because having two healthy daughters, I couldn’t imagine being the parent of a child that had to be in the hospital for an extended stay. Serving those in need, who were dealt a bad hand is the least I can do. And there was a voice that kept saying I needed to do it.”
Bill was matched in January 2007 with Aaron who was 13 at the time. Since then he’s been matched to Jordan, Jackie, Luis, and most recently, Ash. Each match has been a special experience for Bill, but it was his first match, Aaron, who kept him coming back.
Meeting Aaron
“It was the day after New Year’s, I was watching a football game, and the phone rang. It was CCA and they said they had a match! I was excited and nervous because it was actually going to happen!
Aaron was in-patient at the hospital. When I entered his room, he sat in bed without much energy. I introduced myself and got a smile out of him, showed him the Chemo Pal bag, then offered to come back in a few days.
When I came back, he immediately asked about the Chemo Pal bag. Two hours later we were putting away all the Legos we’d played with. I offered to come see him again soon, Aaron ran over, hugged me, and he said, ‘Thank You.’ I was hooked, and at that moment realized how much these kids really appreciate it,” Bill said.
The Importance of a Chemo Pal
Not only did Aaron and Bill become fast friends, but Aaron changed Bill’s awareness around taking care of a seriously ill child.
“I came into this with a perception that most families had the resources and focus to fully support their child. When I was matched with Aaron, I realized how important a Chemo Pal could be in helping a family during this stressful period.
Aaron’s family came from a modest home, and he was an anchor for the whole family, he was really steady. We were matched for two and a half years, and I took on a mentorship role. We also got to do a lot of things outside the hospital setting. We went to Blazer games, family fun nights, bowling, and played frisbee.
That was 11 years ago now and we’re still good friends. It’s simply amazing to see the man he’s grown up to be.”
Meeting Ash
Bill’s most recent match with Ash has also been eye-opening.
“Ash and I were matched three years ago. He hadAcute Lymphocytic Leukemia and is on the autism spectrum. All my previous matches had been older boys ages 7-13 and they were all interested in interactive play, but Ash enjoyed parallel play and simply being in my presence.
My favorite memory with Ash is one of our later Chemo Pal meetups and the very first time we actually played together. Randall Children’s Hospital has a little kitchen area, and he loves to cook, so we would go in there and pretend to cook.
I brought a little motorized-motorcycle, I sent it across the floor to him and he would turn it around a send it back to me. It was a big moment, because Ash connected with me in a way he never had before.”
Thinking about Becoming a Chemo Pal?
With all that experience, Bill has some wisdom to impart on current or prospective Chemo Pals.
“When you think of becoming a Chemo Pal Mentor keep in mind that you’re there for the child. Try to leave your ego at the door, because there’s going to be times where they don’t feel like playing or they’re having a rough day and it might not be what you hoped for.
Being flexible is key. Try to be flexible with scheduling and checking with the parents about appointments. They have a busy life and sometimes the appointment may change and they might forget to tell you. Don’t take it personally. Stay in tune with what the child needs, let them dictate how you can help and you’re on your way to a successful match.”
Together we can provide joy to kids like Aaron and Ash during some of their most difficult years. Consider making a donation of $50 to fill a Chemo Pal bag full of toys or help us fund a match with a child, which costs $1,700 per year.
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