Chat 4 cure's Goals

Usually when we struggle we don’t look for help from the people willing to help us - mainly our friends! Is it because we don’t even know ourselves what is involved and what we really need?

All of this is just ‘too hard’ sometimes - I get it. Do you even have the energy to explain what your needs are? CHAT 4 CURE leads the way in sharing a to-do list for helpful friends to be open and vulnerable with you (the patient) so that you get the support you need most. Share this post!

At Chat 4 Cure we want to help anyone we can, especially younger people. I would love to have an APPthat a patient can download on their smart phone and fill in the prompts to access support networks. This support will be able to come from anywhere in our local region to start off with (and to the whole nation once we expand!) When I was going through Chemo I was in the chair for 6 hours a day, 4 days a week - You could say I used my phone a lot in those times!

CHAT 4 CURE’s to-do list.

Be relatable: Be relatable to the patient. It’s best not to tip-toe around uncomfortable issues. Be sensitive and tell your patient that you are with them in this tough season, that it sucks to be in their shoes but you’ll be with them through it all. This brings so much comfort to them and enriches your friendship. From my own experiences, empathy works.

Encourage the person: I would love to have a list of people that Chat 4 Cure are cheering on and every week send them a message that says, “Hey! I’m here cheering you on and I want you to know I think you’re incredibly brave. If you need something, it’s getting too hard to go on and you don’t know what to do, send me a text and lets talk about it.” (Younger people don’t necessarily like using the phone to call but will DM or text to their hearts content). As a friend, sending a message every week is good encouragement to your patient to continue through this season with your support.

Get the family involved: What I have noticed more often than not is its harder on those closest to the patient than it is for the patient. I want to be able to help out the wife/husband, sons/daughters, mothers/fathers,grandparents etc. As a cancer patient myself I would of much rather the support to go to my wife! If there was a charity that said to me “You can either pay your medical bill or pay for your wife to go and get pampered (hair, nails, massage), I would of chosen the pamper sesh for my wife! She fought harder than I did, she had to be stronger than me, she had to put her feelings on hold just to make sure I was doing alright.

These are just some ways CHAT 4 CURE’s vision break down the barriers of patient & support. Please comment if you have any ideas about supporting patients and breaking barriers. We would love to hear them!