Same care, different approach at Home of Hope Cancer Wellness in Dixon

DIXON – Hugs and heart-to-heart, face-to-face talks have been replaced temporarily with phone calls and Zoom meetings at the Home of Hope Cancer Wellness Center at 1637 Plock Drive.

The nonprofit’s goal has remained the same amid the COVID-19 pandemic, however: to support cancer patients, their families and caregivers in a time of need.

“We’re just plugging away,” Executive Director Joan Padilla said. “COVID has shown to me that it just takes a little bit of time to regroup, rethink and transition into different modes on how to best service people. Our focus is on the patient and their families. Whether we can do that through a phone call or a Zoom meeting, we’re going to do what we need to do.”

Padilla has been Home of Hope’s executive for 8 years, and the last 10 months has presented a unique challenge. When COVID-19 took hold last March, those battling cancer and their families no longer were able to attend its various programs for support, services and information.

For instance, a program through Sterling High School that offered hand massages for cancer patients was shut down. Lunch and Learn, a monthly luncheon with guest speakers providing information about various subjects like the latest oncology research, also was stopped.

So Home of Hope changed its plan. Padilla, assistant Daria Bennett, a social worker and a college intern still do some workshops, but “we have transitioned to online programs,” Bennett said.

“We’ll either make up power points or we’ll have guest speakers come, and we’ll Zoom the program so that way it’s still one-on-one interacting with the clients who are interested in the programs. They can get that information, whether it’s over the Zoom in the meetings, or we record them so they can see them on our Facebook or YouTube channels as well.”

In one respect, Padilla noted this is preferable. Sometimes cancer patients are having such a rough day they were unable to attend programs in person. Now help is available when they’re up to it.

“Because we record them and they’re on our YouTube channel, they can go at their leisure and get the benefits of those programs any time that they want,” Padilla said. “Although we had to stop programs here in person, we have been able to hear from our clients, that they very much enjoy the fact they can link-in and have those benefits. You never know how things are going to turn out.”

With COVID-19 numbers dropping in Region 1, Padilla is hopeful of restoring some of the in-person contact and services she and her staff have with patients at Home of Hope, perhaps when the weather improves in a few months. Staff has been able to meet with some cancer patients at the Northern Illinois Cancer Treatment Center, CGH Medical Center and KSB Hospital since about mid-June, when some COVID restrictions were rescinded.

Scheduled fundraisers planned for 2020 went by the wayside, though, and right now, the only thing planned for 2021 is the Hammer for Hope, billed as a “Healthy Bike Ride for All Ages,” on Aug. 7.

Home of Hope did receive grants that were matched by the Coleman Foundation, a philanthropic group in Chicago that has a branch designed to help cancer support groups. There was also a Paycheck Protection Loan that helped, along with some private donations.

Padilla is hopeful 2021 will prove to be a better year for Home of Hope. A cheery new logo for the nonprofit even was drawn up.

“We saw a big decrease in what we normally would have through the year,” Padilla said. “But you know what, it’s a brand new year, the sun is shining, and we’re going to be hopeful.”

To learn more about the offerings at Home of Hope Cancer Wellness Center, or to donate, call 815-288-4673, go to homeofhopeonline.org or find it on Facebook.