In honor of her birthday, we want to take a moment to highlight one of the ways the Angela Chasey Memorial Fund has helped patients at the Parkview Packnett Family Cancer Institute. 

To date, Angie’s fund, which goes to the Parkview Foundation, has provided 75 bags of therapy to cancer patients, at no charge. These bags include mitts and socks, used to make cryotherapy, a component of some care plans, more comfortable. Cryotherapy can reduce the risk of chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy (CIPN) (numbness and pain caused by nerve damage), a common side effect of Taxol chemotherapy, the kind used to treat many breast and gynecological cancers.

Ice bags, placed over the hands and feet during infusion, can be beneficial, but also messy and uncomfortable. Specially designed gloves and socks offer a more balanced and controlled delivery of the beneficial low temperature, but can be pricey. Through the generous giving of Angie’s loved ones, Parkview cancer patients are being relieved of that financial burden.

Ann’s gratitude

Ann Holmes is five weeks into her treatment for triple-negative metaplastic breast cancer, which requires chemotherapy and cryotherapy. “I remember the first time we came home from the hospital, and I told my husband, Jim, I was just going to buy the gloves and socks. The bags spilled and they had to mop up the water, and I just didn’t think it was worth the mess,” she recalled. “But when I looked into them, they were pricey.”

When Ann received the therapy bag made possible by the Angela Chasey Memorial Fund, she felt a sense of relief. “It’s a blessing! You start seeing the bills coming in and experiencing the side effects of treatment, and to get these gifts was incredible.” Ann and Jim, who just celebrated their 46^th wedding anniversary, are retired and on a fixed income, so the gesture meant a great deal.

And as for the efficacy … “They are fabulous! I can still crochet and feel the thread of the yarn with the mitts on. I haven’t experienced any signs of neuropathy, so they’ve definitely been helpful. It’s nice, feeling the cool on the tops and bottoms of my hands and feet.”

And, just as Angie would have wanted, the gift made possible by her legacy is spawning more acts of compassion. “I believe in paying it forward,” Ann said. “When I get through this, I want to donate so someone else can get a set of gloves and socks.”

Supporting Angela’s cause

Angie was a generous champion for several non-profits in Fort Wayne. She used her passion for helping others in her roles with the Parkview Foundation from 2015-2020. When she was diagnosed with a rare type of ovarian cancer, Angie carried her relentless optimism with her throughout her treatments, up until her passing in 2020.

As a celebration of Angie’s spirit of giving, service and friendship, loved ones created the Angela Chasey Memorial Fund to raise money for the Parkview Foundation. These donations go toward supporting the Parkview Packnett Family Cancer Institute in Angie’s memory. You can learn more about the fund and how you can contribute here.