Nurse’s Comfort Baskets Offer Support to Grieving Families

At Moffitt Cancer Center, care goes beyond medical treatment — it’s about compassion and creating human connections during the most challenging times. For Kayleigh Rodriguez, a nurse in the Blood and Marrow Transplant (BMT) unit, this commitment to holistic care inspired an initiative that has touched the lives of many families: comfort baskets.

The idea came to Rodriguez after a particularly tough experience a year ago. She developed a deep bond with a patient and their family during their extended stay. When the patient passed, Rodriguez found it difficult to say goodbye. "It was hard," she recalled, "I felt like we had nothing to offer them except our support, but I wanted to do something more." And with that, the comfort basket initiative was born — a simple yet heartfelt gesture designed to provide solace to grieving families.

Each basket contains carefully selected items meant to bring comfort: a cozy blanket, a mug with soothing tea, chocolates, a book called “Healing After Loss” and a handwritten card. All items are personally picked by Rodriguez herself and represent warmth, care and thoughtfulness.

The comfort baskets include a cozy blanket, a mug with soothing tea, chocolates, a book and a handwritten card.

“I want the families to know they’re not alone, that we’re thinking of them even after their loved one has passed,” she said.

Since its inception, Rodriguez has personally assembled and distributed 25 baskets. The feedback from families has been overwhelmingly positive. Many express deep gratitude for the kindness shown during such a vulnerable time. One particularly moving addition to the baskets came after a collaboration with another nurse who pioneered Heartbeat in a Bottle, a tangible keepsake that adds an even more personal touch. This project involves capturing a patient’s heartbeat on a small strip of telemetric paper, which is then placed inside a small keepsake bottle for the family.

While the comfort basket program has grown, it has not been without challenges, particularly in terms of funding. Rodriguez initially relied on personal funds and contributions from staff. The BMT unit even raised some funds through a snack cart initiative, but resources remain limited. Despite these obstacles, she is determined to find sustainable support to ensure the program’s future.

Rodriguez hopes the comfort basket program will expand across other units at Moffitt, helping even more families. "I want to see this grow beyond BMT. It’s not just about the patients, it’s about caring for their families too. They need comfort and support just as much," she said.

For her, the joy of giving these baskets isn’t just about the gratitude she receives, the reward is deeply personal. "This project allows me to go beyond the day-to-day tasks of nursing, it’s about creating a human connection. I want the families to know that we see them, that we care and that we’re here for them,” she said.

Through Rodriguez’s compassionate vision, Moffitt’s comfort basket initiative is a powerful reminder that healing happens on many levels, and that sometimes, the smallest gestures leave the greatest impact.