When a person is first diagnosed with an unfortunate life threatening disease like cancer, it can be difficult to know what to do or where to go. The upsetting news is stressful enough and family members might also be too devastated to start calling insurance companies and researching doctors.

In our community, we are fortunate enough to have the Morris I Franco Cancer Center. The center is a not for profit organization which was founded by Nancy Sutton in 2009.

To discuss this center we first have to acknowledge the person whom it is named for. Morris I Franco was a beloved community member whom despite his poor health, managed to make an impact in our community. He was known for his generosity and wisdom both in community business and in community service.

“Although he was not fortunate to have good health, he never allowed that to deter him from living life to the fullest and accomplishing all that he did,” said his wife Carol Franco. She hopes that his 57 years of survival will inspire the patients that visit the center.

The helpful and caring volunteers at the Morris I Franco Cancer Center make the phone calls for their patients, accompany them to their doctors appointments, and ask the right questions to their doctors. Volunteers will even sit with patients through chemotherapy sessions if necessary literally holding their hand through the entire process.

The organization was started after an event that Nancy organized for cancer awareness day. 700 people attended which caused Nancy and her committee to see the need for this center and all the services they now offer. They did their research, visited many cancer centers and incorporated all of the things other places offered.

“If someone was doing yoga, we offered yoga. If someone had acupuncture, we added that too,” explained Nancy of the process.

Nancy and her team made sure not to skip on a single idea she came across. It is truly the ultimate place for people who need healing. Hospitals have commented that there is nothing like this center and although they try to lend a hand to other centers, you can’t quite get the community warmth and dedication that the Morris I Franco cancer center has.

“There is nothing out there as comprehensive as what we have,” said Nancy, “It’s our volunteers that set us apart. They run everything, without them we couldn’t do the things we do.”

The center goes way beyond caring for the physical needs of the patients. They work their hardest to make sure the patient is feeling good mentally. The center goes out of its way to make patients feel at home whether it be in the center or a hospital bed.

The volunteers are truly understanding because most of them are cancer survivors themselves. Each patient is paired with someone to speak to that has also been through a similar situation. This can be critical because to speak to someone that really understands the pain you're going through can make all the difference to a cancer patient.

The center also cares for people other than the patients themselves. The center knows that the families of those inflicted by this disease have a hard time dealing with the circumstance. That is why they provide so many recourses to families such as counseling, fun activities, and whatever else they might need to help them adjust.

Emily Shrem Anteby was just 15 years old when she was diagnosed with Hodgkin's Lymphoma in 2011. This was a major blow to her family and many friends who love her. The Morris I Franco Cancer Center was there for her.

“They are now my family. Literally a second home to me during and even after my treatment,” Emily continued, “They offered me so much love and fun times whenever I came in.”

Emily explained that the impact the center had on her during this difficult period was beyond what she had expected. They were helpful to her parents, explaining everything to them, coming to her various doctors appointments, helping them understand the options they had medically.

“I could not have done anything without their expertise and services,” said Emily of her experience with the center.

The center sent a therapist to speak to Emily’s siblings. They even sent Emily and her younger sister Victoria to a play for a fun night out.

“The cancer center really helped my family through a hard time,” said Jeanette Haddad, Emily’s older sister, “They weren't only there for Emily, they were there for our entire family. They gave us books and pamphlets educating us on what was going on. They were available to us for therapy sessions and a place to just get away. It felt like a second home.”

Baruch Hashem, Emily won her battle with cancer in January 2012 when she was told she was cancer free.

Going through chemo therapy can be rough on a body. It causes much physical pain as well as hair loss which can be very upsetting for someone already dealing with so much.

The Morris I Franco Cancer Center has a beauty salon, in which volunteers will fit a cancer patient with a beautiful wig to lift their spirits. They will also style the patient's wig, do their nails, and makeup for a wedding or event. This makes the patients feel special and important.

Volunteers and staff at the center will try anything to lift spirits. The center focuses on creating a sense of community around a cancer patient and their family so that they know they have a team of people fighting for the best possible outcome.

Frieda Schweky

Frieda@sephardic.org

Frieda Schweky is Sephardic.Org's official community events reporter. For inquiries and to get involved with our site, please contact Frieda via email.