An Encounter With Cancer Patients and Hope

Inspiring reflection from Julie Zito, BSPharm, PhD, professor in the Department of Pharmaceutical Health Services Research at the University of Maryland School of Pharmacy.

By Julie Zito
January 10, 2014

If you look across the University of Maryland, Baltimore (UMB) campus, you find a tiny building adjacent to the Saratoga building facing Lexington Street. The bold sign outside announces the American Cancer Society’s Hope Lodge, Harry and Jeannette Weinberg Campus of Hope.

Faculty, staff, and students rush by the building everyday on their way to research projects, administrative tasks, and classes. I’ve done that hundreds of times in past years, though one day in May 2013 I entered the building for the first time and the experience remains etched in my memory.

About Hope Lodge

Hope Lodge is a foundation-supported service to cancer patients who are undergoing daily radiation but live too far away to make day trips feasible. I was going there intent on giving loving kindness, but it was a turnabout—I got much more than I gave from the out-of-town folks who were staying there during cancer treatment, accompanied by spouses and significant others.

How did I get to have such an experience?

As many UMB folks know, we have a University agenda to promote shared activities among faculty, staff and students. Last winter, the faculty senate, staff senate, and student government leaders met for the first time. One issue that came up was finding a task of mutual interest to share. A charitable act was easily agreed upon. Thus, the call went out for unmet needs in the community and—you guessed it—dinner with Hope Lodge’s short-time residents was identified.

Turkey Dinner From Lexington Market

Acting Dean of Admissions Judy Porter, DDS, of the School of Dentistry organized a team of faculty senators from medicine, nursing, and pharmacy along with young, bright-faced nursing students. “Getting faculty into action is worse than herding cats,” Porter acknowledges. But, with her persistence and gentle prodding, by May 23 a timid band of 12 descended on Hope Lodge guests rolling a cartful of turkey dinners ala Krause’s stand at Lexington Market.

Hope Lodge has a laid-back, family atmosphere in the dining area with cozy round tables that seat four guests. After reheating the food in the kitchen, we served buffet style and then proceeded to join in the meal and conversation at individual tables.

That’s when the conversations began in earnest and I started to observe the strong resolve and gentle style of folks who were not hiding, denying or sugar-coating their circumstances. And they did so with such great appreciation for what, for us, was just a few hours of our time.

The Patients: Models of Courage and Determination

Cancer has many faces, a variety of backgrounds, personal belief systems, and neighborhoods. The patients I met that evening appeared experienced in facing serious challenges—sober, but not sad-faced. Couples cared for each other quietly as long-term partners often do, anticipating needs with little fuss and few words. Stories often turned to the hospital staff and their support through rigorous protocols, and how staying at Hope Lodge was reducing the day-to-day stress for them.

I am a breast cancer survivor, but that evening I understood I was in another place here among Hope Lodge guests—at least for the moment. And their gift to me and my student and faculty colleagues that May evening was to show us how courage and determination are modeled in the face of great uncertainty.

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