My Supportive 'Angels'
Maureen Sweeney and Bárbara Cruz pose after meeting through Imerman Angels.
As my oncologist laid out the treatment plan for my lymphoma diagnosis, my mind was abuzz with questions. What could I expect from the bone marrow transplant (BMT)? What was the experience like for women my age? Although my doctor was wonderful at explaining the medical side of things, I still longed to speak with someone who had been through the process, to get some insights from a patient’s perspective.
After sharing my worries with a kind and knowledgeable Moffitt staff member, she told me about Imerman Angels, a national organization that provides one-on-one support for patients and caregivers by pairing them with others in similar circumstances. Soon, I was able to speak to two women survivors who had been through the BMT process and were thriving. The strength and hope those conversations gave me were invaluable. I vowed that once I recuperated from my BMT procedure, I would one day serve in this same capacity for others.
Heather Oleson is another person Bárbara Cruz befriended after joining Imerman Angels.
About a year later, the opportunity presented to serve as a mentor angel. Since then, I have spoken to about a dozen women with the same type of lymphoma. It is enormously rewarding to be able to answer their questions from a patient’s perspective, empathize with their concerns and offer encouragement.
But I also continue to benefit from these relationships, receiving support when my disease recurs and deepening my friendship with several of the women I have met through the program. Two of them in particular, have become lifelong friends and even though they are patients in other states, we have managed to meet in person and even have family get-togethers.
Whether you are a survivor or the caretaker of one, consider registering with Imerman Angels. The connection and community you will experience will be priceless.
Visit ImermanAngels.org to register with Imerman Angels and find peer-to-peer connections.
This story was originally published in the PARTNERS newsletter. Visit Moffitt.org/PARTNERS for more stories and to learn more.