Download “When you become sick and do not have the means to get well, you

Giving Patients A Lift
Many patients find themselves overwhelmed after receiving a diagnosis of cancer.
They must also begin to cope with the magnitude of the appointments, tests, and
treatments they require to improve their health. Sometimes, that concern extends to
transportation. The McLeod Foundation and its donors support a program called
Loving Initiative for Transportation that gives these patients a lift in their cancer
journey.
Transportation to a doctor’s
appointment, scheduled treatment for
radiation or chemotherapy creates
anxiety for many cancer patients.
A lack of transportation for scheduled
appointments is a barrier to the
successful treatment of a cancer
patient’s disease.
“Consider, for example, a radiation
patient who must receive treatment
seven days a week for six weeks.
Without transportation, this is not
possible,” explained Raquel Serrano, the
Certified Oncology Social Worker for
McLeod Cancer Services.
One patient impacted by the LIFT
program is Sarah McElveen, who was
raised in Pamplico along with ten
brothers and sisters. She is the sixth of
“When you become sick and do
not have the means to get well,
you need help. I am so very
thankful that McLeod had a
program to help me.”
Sarah McElveen is grateful for the support she
received from McLeod Oncology Social Worker
Raquel Serrano and the LIFT program.
McLEOD FOUNDATION
her siblings to be diagnosed with
cancer.
When Sarah was informed that she
had both colon and breast cancer, her
surgeon, Dr. Amy Murrell, explained to
her that she would need six weeks of
radiation therapy treatment.
Sarah, who has a naturally positive
outlook, knew she needed help. She did
not have a car or money to afford the
daily trips from Pamplico to Florence
for the life-saving treatments. Sarah
shared her concern with Dr. Murrell’s
office. Through the assistance of the
McLeod Radiation Oncology staff,
Raquel was contacted to help Sarah
with transportation.
The Loving Initiative for
Transportation (LIFT) Program
– Sarah McElveen
8
2012 ANNUAL REPORT
2012 ANNUAL REPORT
9
provides assistance to patients
diagnosed with cancer who do not
have any other form of transportation
in order to receive their cancer
treatments. The program provides
assistance by a contracted driver, gas
vouchers, taxi vouchers or shuttle
services. LIFT is funded entirely
through generous gifts to the McLeod
Foundation.
“When you become sick and do not
have the means to get well, you need
help. I am so very thankful that
McLeod had a program to help me,”
said Sarah.
Sarah recently celebrated the
completion of her cancer treatment by
ringing the bell in Radiation Oncology.
This is a tradition that began in 2005
when Cancer Survivor George Bennett
donated the commemorative bell
to the McLeod Radiation Oncology
Department.
Sarah was surrounded by other
patients she had grown close to during
her appointments. These patients
shared the common bond of a cancer
diagnosis and Sarah became their
inspiration. She encouraged them by
sharing “that while the body ages, the
spirit is forever young.”
Sarah firmly believes that God
provided for her care. She is also
grateful for McLeod Foundation
donors whose gifts made the LIFT
program available for her and many
others.
McLEOD FOUNDATION