Montco nonprofit gives ‘breathing room’ to families fighting cancer

The Respiratory Room Basis was based 25 years in the past to assist sufferers deal with on a regular basis duties whereas in care. However its new initiatives due to the pandemic have turn into a sport changer.

“She’d be so happy with what this has turn into,” stated Mary Ellen Fitzgerald, the manager director of the muse.

The “she” Fitzgerald is referring to is Diane Fitzgerald, her sister, who was identified with breast most cancers at 30 years outdated whereas being the mom to a few younger youngsters.

“She realized throughout that point that not all people had that very same sort of assist, so she and her husband began the muse simply three months earlier than she handed,” stated Fitzgerald.

Within the final 25 years, the “Respiratory Room Basis” has turn into a spot the place greater than 15,000 most cancers sufferers have turned to for assist with something from payments, to groceries, to medical prices. Mary Ellen continues the mission in her sister’s honor.

“That first 12 months of 1997, we helped three households. Final 12 months, we helped 1,400,” she stated.

The beginning of the pandemic exploited an enormous want for most cancers sufferers: transportation. A affected person’s remedy did not cease when the world shut down, however buses and trains did turn into harmful for the immunocompromised. On the time, the muse had a pilot program to present folks rides to their remedy. The concept rapidly expanded.

“Social staff have been at a loss. How can we get our sufferers right here?” Fitzgerald stated of the time.

The inspiration now companions with rideshare providers like Lyft and Uber to carry sufferers to and from their appointments. It funded greater than 5,600 rides in 2021.

“There is no break in care as a result of you do not have a trip to remedy. You may have a dependable useful resource that takes one factor off their plate,” she stated.

The concept additionally continues Diane’s unique mission of giving households “respiratory room.”

“She would have wished nothing greater than to assist extra folks and in a extra impactful method,” stated Fitzgerald.