Groundbreakings in Pine Bluff are always of notice, and this one was especially so.
In less than a year, cancer patients at Jefferson Regional Medical Center will have a free place to stay while undergoing treatment, thanks to a cooperation between a couple of foundations.
On one side, there’s TV anchor Donna Terrell, who has been motivated by the cancer-caused death of her daughter, Queah, to make life a little easier for others. On the other side is the Jefferson Regional foundation, which, for the first time, is partnering with an outside entity.
“This is a really special project, not only the story about how it came about with Donna and her daughter’s story,” said JRMC’s Brian Thomas. “But really, the opportunity to do something between her foundation organization and the Jefferson Regional Foundation, it will be the first of its kind for our group and our foundation to partner with another organization to do something as well for patients.”
Independent reporting for Pine Bluff & Jefferson County since 1879.
The new 3,300-square-foot Warrior Lodge, estimated to cost more than a half-million dollars, will be built at 4003 S. Mulberry St., and will include four bedroom suites with private restrooms, kitchen, living area and laundry. Thomas said it will be available for those fighting any kind of cancer.
“This is quite amazing for us. I am overwhelmed, I am overjoyed … I am a little nervous,” said Terrell. “There’s a long road ahead — this is just the beginning.”
While medical expenses might be mostly taken care of by insurance, fighting life-threatening conditions can strain or break a family’s budget. Add to those costs lodging and the bottom line quickly gets out of control, forcing these brave individuals to travel thousands of miles, driving back and forth from home over the course of many weeks, to get the care they need.
The Warrior Lodge will change that for four individuals at a time.
“We’ll have the capacity to save many patients, not just one at a time,” said Kathy Ross, director of oncology services at JRMC.
“The bottom line,” said Terrell, “is we are going to help cancer patients, their families, their caregivers through one of the most difficult times of their lives, and to have at least some of the financial burden lifted is so meaningful. If we can help them by one small measure by doing something by giving them a place to stay, then it means a lot.”
Yes, it will mean one less thing for cancer patients to worry about and will put those individuals one step closer to the care they need. Nothing could be better.