June 2009

I want to thank you for speaking to our church circle and for arranging 
our visit to Benchmark for the workshops.  Your presentation 
introduced us to your organization and its many, many good works. 
Gems of Hope is truly an amazing organization!           Terrie 





May 2008

I can't tell you how much your Gems of Hope meant to me. My brother 
Bobby died of cancer in August of 2006.  It was a really difficult time
and such a ray of hope to have those rings to hold on to. I have them
attached to my key ring so I get a daily reminder of my brother. I really
miss him!

Sincerely,
Cindy Calderon



June, 2008 

I thought very much of you in the past month or two because my 
annual exam prompted a call back to the Women’s Center for a second 
mammogram. My right breast scan showed some teensy, tiny 
calcifications. After the doctor showed me the scan and explained that 
it would be good to get a biopsy done, there I was – the patient.   As 
one of the breast health specialists was with me to answer questions, 
fears, etc. I looked down to reach for a tissue, and there was the 
Gems of Hope gift basket, with your lovely earrings and serenity 
circles. Such kindnesses are not lost in scenarios like that, where fear 
rises sharply as we hear about those possibilities we keep at arm’s 
length as much as possible….

 

I’m not in the brave company of those who the Gems baskets are truly 
aimed at helping. But just the nearness gave me a new appreciation 
for you, Gems of Hope and all that our sisters facing troubling 
mammograms face.  


I had a surgical biopsy (the calcifications were near the back of my 
breast, by the chest wall, so hard to get at….) All went well, and I was 
one of the lucky ones to hear “benign” and I got the thumbs-up. 

Sherry C.


When we found out my Mom, Sue Schipfmann, was sick, it had already 
spread from her lung to her brain and bones. The doctors said they 
assumed it was everywhere in her body. My mother fought her cancer 
aggresively for two months before she left us on Monday, July 11th. 
She never complained, remained strong, and stayed positive during her 
ten days of radiation and nine chemo treatments. She was so touched 
when she received her first pair of earrings and the inspirational quote 
that read, 'If you can learn from hard knocks, you can also learn from 
soft touches' by Carolyn Kenmore. She wanted to give that same 
feeling to others. She couldn't use her hands well but she thought she 
could still glue.


"Please, keep making a difference in people's lives.  Thank you for 
touching my mom's life.  Thanks for influencing and inspiring mine."

As she planned for her future, she recorded different Gems of Hope 
workshops on her calendar. Unfortunately she was never able to attend 
a workshop. I wanted you to know that we have asked people to make 
donations in her honor, now that she has passed. Though she was 
never able to be with you in body she will always be with you in 
spirit.     

-Stephanie


Personally, I attend the activities as often as I can, for a number of
reasons.  First, I get a great sense that my work is an important outreach
to others.  Second, I'm certain that the time and energy I spend goes
directly to the patients and survivors to whom I intend it to go.  Cancer
survivors themselves built this organization out of love. It truly is a
means of "paying it forward" for those of us who benefited from support in
our own time of challenge. Survivors can laugh and share, relating out of
empathy for each other, knowing deeply the feelings and memories of a
common experience.  The activities focus energies not on the past, however,
but on the future, and on helping others who may be going through treatment. 

-Darla


My dad (only 62) has just been diagnosed with Stage 4 prostate cancer 
and it has already spread to his bones. He started treatment last 
week, and it is really taking a toll on him. We are dealing with a lot 
right now as a family in trying to get through this ourselves while still 
being supportive of my dad. We love our serenity circles…my dad got 
really teary when I gave his to him. He wears it on a necklace, so does 
my husband and my brother.  I think it is nice that we can all wear the 
same one in support of my dad and his struggle.

Thank you again so much for them. 

-Maribeth



When the idea for Gems of Hope was first introduced to our office, I 
was reminded of a quote from Mother Teresa that said, "kind words can 
be short and easy to speak, but their echoes are truly endless." In this 
case, the acts of one child are now echoing throughout cancer 
treatment clinics on a daily basis.  A seed of hope is planted in each 
patient that receives the gift of encouraging words and jewelry, 
created 
by those that have gone before them on this journey.

"Kind words can be short and easy to speak, but their echoes are truly 
endless."  -Mother Teresa


In addition, hope is infused through the creation of libraries filled with 
books that other patients have found helpful throughout treatment.  As 
our patients are touched, they too are becoming involved, helping in 
the process of creating gifts for future patients...and thus the seeds 
grow. At Iowa Blood and Cancer Care, we recognize that healing goes 
far beyond being "cured." Healing is something that happens in the 
heart and soul.  Gems of Hope promotes healing.

-Sylvia Anspach A.R.N.P.



I want to tell you I was deeply touched by the book called "Fear Not" 
that Gems of Hope gave to me.  I took it with me to the surgery prep 
room on Monday morning. I didn't even get inside the cover before I 
found the thing to latch on to.  It was on the back cover, a quote by 
John Wayne (whom I love because he reminds me of my father)

"Courage is being scared to death- and saddling up anyway." -John 
Wayne


I was so scared at that moment, but that quote kind of settled me 
down.  I realized it's ok to be scared, but you still gotta do what you 
gotta do.  Thanks for your support.

-Donna, Cancer Survivor



I want to thank you for helping my young daughter Whitney find a way 
to have compassion for others in need and a drive to change their lives 
for the better.  Whitney's grandfather was diagnosed with brain cancer 
a couple of years ago, he was a patient at Oncology Associates. Our 
family is grateful to all the people who helped make his days brighter 
there.


Whitney has turned sadness into a true passion for providing color to 
peoples' days by creating her little works of art.

Whitney and her grandfather were extremely close and spent a great 
deal of time together. Whether it was planting gardens, reading books, 
or keeping her safe on the roads by being her trusted schoolbus 
driver.  
I regret to say, he has since passed away.  She struggles to 
understand the sorrow she feels for the part of her heart the belongs 
to her grandpa Chuck. She doesn't understand why he was taken away 
at such a young age and why people couldn't "fix him". She misses him 
dearly. Volunteering for Gems of Hope has been theraputic for her the 
last couple of weeks. Whitney has turned sadness into a true passion 
for providing color to peoples' days by creating her little works of art. 
Thank you for that. You have no idea how much this touches my heart.

-Heather, Mother of young volunteer



As a cancer survivor and currently in treatment, I am so blessed by the 
gift you provide.  Not only are the earrings beautiful, but I enjoy 
looking through the basket from time to time.  The positive quotes and 
scriptures are healing to my soul and hope.I believe the testimony of 
each person involved with Gems of Hope offers encouragement.  I have 
participated in making earrings and the other volunteers have great 
stories to share. Thank you for reaching out to us as we take this 
journey 
(with the Lord Jesus).  I have also been using the library to check out 
books.

Rayetta