As the world continues in the face of the COVID-19
pandemic, healthcare workers are selflessly risking their lives to save the
lives of others. Stories of their heroics are common and yet still do not cover
the breadth of their sacrifice.
However, there is another group of people that also
needs attention–cancer patients. This already vulnerable group faces an
impossible choice: stay home and hopefully stay free from coronavirus, or leave
home to receive life-saving treatments.
A recent Lancet study reveals that immunocompromised
cancer patients are nearly five times more likely to develop severe
complications from COVID-19 in comparison to the general population. According
to the CDC, cloth masks have been endorsed to limit spread amongst contagious
but asymptomatic people. Mask usage is one of the CDC’s primary recommendations
to flatten the curve.
Three local high school students knew this and saw an
opportunity to jump on the challenge. Arjun Moorthy (17), Roshan Pillai (17)
and Arun Moorthy (15), initiated a community-driven program, the COVID Supply Initiative (CSI), with the goal to
provide masks to every cancer patient in the valley.
Instead of taking a break when their
school closed, these young men went to work. They are collecting homemade and
donated masks to distribute at cancer centers across Phoenix to patients
undergoing chemotherapy.
“We’ve always looked to help our community,” Pillai said, “and we knew that we couldn’t sit idle while people suffer.” Motivated to help as many as they could, they soon partnered with large oncology groups and began to distribute masks to Honor Health, Virginia Piper Cancer Center, Ironwood Cancer Center, and Palo Verde Cancer Specialists.
A group of women with breast cancer were
among the grateful recipients. One patient reported, “It is very touching and
impactful to know someone is thinking of me and those who are like me. This act
of generosity gives me hope for the future generation watching youth be
proactive in their community”. Seeing the smiles on their faces definitely was motivation
for us” says Arjun Moorthy. Infact, one woman commented why this act of
generosity was even more important today. “Many of the support groups are
closed, and I feel alone going through my journey. Family members are no longer
allowed in with me during my treatment, and it gets lonely.”
CSI took these words and decided to
broaden their impact. They often hand out masks in-person to patients
undergoing chemotherapy and take the time to talk with them. They have also
begun including motivational messages with each mask that communicate hope and
faith. Messages like “You are a fighter”, “Cancer may have started the fight,
but you will win it”.
The masks have been
well-received and patients are often seen smiling when they read the adjoining
messages. Some have even reported that for a few minutes when they see the
messages, they almost forget where they are sitting.
The teens say the most unique aspect of the mask
collection has been how many of the mask donations come from people who know
someone undergoing cancer treatment. “The concept of ‘pay it forward’ really
applies,” commented Arun Moorthy.
It is true that everyone should be using
personal protection gear. However, cancer patients are already on a difficult
journey that has been made more life-threatening by the COVID-19 pandemic. Dr.
Abhishek Patel, medical oncologist at Virginia Piper Cancer Center explains “if
patients going through chemotherapy get the virus, they have a higher risk of
Intensive Care Unit admissions and death. Therefore, masks are an important
tool for protection.”
CSI is growing, and
they plan to donate masks globally through both local collections and a
mask-pairing program with an inspirational message for every patient. They’ll
accomplish this lofty goal through a program called Mask Pair.
“We are contacting oncology centers
domestically and internationally to let them know there is help and hope,” says
Mr. Pillai.
“We want to make mask donation as easy
as a click of a button. People with extra masks can go to our website, find
where they are needed, and then send directly there,” says Arun Moorthy.
This is not the first time these boys
have worked for the benefit of their local community, and it likely won’t be
the last. Readers with an interest in CSI’s movement can go to
covidsupplyinitiative.org and donate with a message under the Mask Pair
program. Local mask pickups can be coordinated by emailing covidsupplyinitative@gmail.com.