Southland Breast Cancer Patients Receive Gifts of Comfort

Michele Richardson, Chair-Elect of the Advocate Aurora Board of Directors, on Feb. 24 treated a dozen Advocate South Suburban Hospital patients at various stages of breast cancer treatment to breakfast, words of encouragement and a care bag filled with goodies from the PinkWellChick Foundation.

“It’s just a little gift of love from the PinkWellChick Foundation, and me, to remind you to stay strong, keep going and know you are loved,” Richardson said.

Each care bag included a pillow for incision comfort, a fuzzy blanket, socks, an adult coloring book, a lavender sachet, ginger candies, lotion and other treats to bring comfort and support to women undergoing chemotherapy. Richardson is one of several members of the non-profit PinkWellChick Foundation who distribute identical comfort and care bags nationwide, in loving memory of close friend Barbra Watson-Riley, the attorney, entrepreneur and passionate women’s health advocate. Watson-Riley recently lost her battle with breast cancer.

In addition to Richardson, Advocate South Suburban's senior leadership team, cancer survivorship team and surgeon Dr. Roseann Krinski attended the event to encourage the attending patients.

“Thank you for trusting us to take care of you. We couldn’t do what we do without patients like you,” Richardson said.

Since 2015, the PinkWellChick Foundation has distributed more than 2,000 comfort and care bags to women in underserved communities across the country.