March 29, 2024

CHI Health Mercy Corning helps patient dream come true

CORNING – Dear applicant ... the letter starts off innocently. But then the next lines catch your heart. The Dream Foundation is a wish granting organization for adults with a life limiting illness and a life expectancy of one year or less.

CHI Health Mercy Corning’s Chimene Cobb learned about the program through a representative of Genetech Pharmaceutical, who specializes in oncology medicine.

“The representative encouraged to me to reach out to patients and offer the opportunity to them. We’ve had a few of our patients want to go for the ‘dream’ they have. And I will do everything I can to make it happen for them,” Cobb said. “As oncology nurses, we often see people struggle with the treatment and yet stay upbeat. We learn and gain as much inspiration from our patients as they do from us.”

One of those patients happened to be Michelle Purcell.

“I was diagnosed with breast cancer Oct. 22, 2015, and have been getting treatments ever since then,” Purcell said. “I know that my prognosis is not good at this point, so when Chimene approached me with getting a dream fulfilled, I was grateful and excited.”

Purcell and Cobb teamed up to fill out the paperwork and the patient letter to accompany the application to the Dream Foundation. Cobb shared the indicators for qualification include the tough answers of a 6-12 month life expectancy, what stage the cancer is at and has it spread to the bones or other organs.

“Working with Dr. Warner, our oncologist, and the patient, it is a team effort to get this done,” Cobb said.

Purcell shared she was asked to have two dreams, a primary one and secondary option.

“I know I could have selected things like travel or a computer, but I went with something I like to do with my family, especially my grandkids. I wanted a large screen television. My second choice was a larger ipad.”

Purcell joked when she is in the chair each week for treatment, she brings staff up-to-date on shows that they all like.

“I like to have as much fun as I can, the staff in outpatient have been so good to me and the treatment has been excellent. Cobb has gone above and beyond for me. When I get the chance to sit and enjoy some TV time with my grandchildren, to laugh with them, discuss some of the shows, it really has been a dream come to life.”

Purcell has three daughters, a grandson and granddaughter and one on the way.

“I’m such a homebody, that this is the perfect dream for me, to spend time with my family gathered around and the focus isn’t on the illness, it’s on entertainment.”

Representatives from Genetech recently traveled to Corning to present Purcell with her new television. They also brought along staff to install the television for her. The generosity doesn’t stop as each dream delivered includes a comfort basket from Genetech Pharmaceutical designed for the patient. They create an upbeat atmosphere with balloons, flowers, cupcakes and more to celebrate dream delivery to the home. Patients have the choice as to where a dream item is delivered. Some past recipients have chosen to have the ‘dream’ delivered to them at the hospital during a treatment day.

“All our nurses can assist patients with the Dream Foundation, I really have a passion for making sure it happens for our patients,” Cobb said. “It’s so fulfilling to give a patient some joy in a difficult life experience. I like to think of it as a light in a dark spot.”

Other staff echoed the sentiment that Cobb is the expert at making it happen.

Purcell said, “Chimene and all of them here have brought so much joy to me, they have made the tough times better. She really has been a light in my life.”