Calling All Compassionistas

My name is Jennifer and I am a resident of Glen Ellyn. I’m mother to a dinosaur-obsessed 5 year-old girl, wife to a 40-year-old fantasy football fanatic, and guardian of a dog named Bunny who also happens to be obsessed with dinosaurs. Or should I say, chewing dinosaur toys.

I am also a breast cancer survivor.

I was diagnosed in 2015 at the age of 36 when my daughter was just a year and a half. Aside from being absolutely terrified, I was in complete shock. Breast cancer didn’t run in my family and because I knew mammograms weren’t performed until age 45, I assumed it wasn’t something I needed to even think about for at least another decade. I didn’t even perform monthly self exams; that was a task I left to my doctors during yearly check-ups.

While cancer and its year and a half long treatment regimen was an unrelenting nightmare, I was determined to focus on the silver linings, of which there were surprisingly many. I was surrounded by a beautiful and solid support system of family, friends and community during my fight. One particular blessing was the gift of a Compassion Bag. It was more than a tangible item, it was a welcoming into a sisterhood, and it was a message of hope.

I’m writing about this because October is breast cancer awareness month and while many worthy nonprofits will solicit donations for research and awareness, I believe tending directly to the women who are in the fight for their lives is equally important.

This is why I ask you to consider donating to Compassion That Compels.

Compassion That Compels is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit which directly touches the lives of women battling cancer - any type of cancer - in several ways. Their original initiative which began in 2013, their signature gift if you will, is a Compassion Bag. In this beautifully designed custom tote is a soft blanket, perfect for those cold chemotherapy rooms, a custom notebook in which information can be jotted down during doctors appointments, a custom journal for middle of the night thought inducing insomnia, a pen, organic peppermint tea, a travel mug, old-fashioned soft mints, a Chick-fil-A gift card, and a Jesus Calling devotional.

But Compassion That Compels doesn’t stop there. They not only send Compassion Bags to women all over the globe, they also currently offer two valuable programs; the Sister 2 Sister mentoring program and the On Your Feet program which offers career support and guidance.

The Sister-2-Sister Mentoring Program matches women with different diagnoses but similar life circumstances to connect beyond the medical impact. This program is a way to connect a woman who has ‘been there’ to help her sister navigate the how-to’s of life during treatment and beyond. The On Your Feet Program assists women who need to either return to work after a hiatus due to treatment restrictions, or for women who need to make changes in their career as a result of their diagnosis or treatment.

I believe in Compassion That Compels, their mission and their dedication, which is why I ask you to consider donating today.

To make a contribution of any amount, or to sponsor a bag for a woman you know currently undergoing cancer treatment, please visit compassionthatcompels.org/donate/

If you are currently battling cancer and would like to request a bag, please visit compassionthatcompels.org/request-a-bag/