‘Road to Recovery’ for cancer patients
Tulsa World john.klein@tulsaworld.com
TULSA — Stephen Johnson recently drove a cancer patient to the person’s final treatment.
The tumor, once lifethreatening, had been reduced to virtually nothing for the patient, who Johnson had driven to treatments for a long time.
“That’s what keeps me going,” Johnson said. “Money can’t buy that kind of joy.”
Johnson, who lost his mother and wife to cancer, is a volunteer driver with the “Road to Recov- ery” program operated by the American Cancer Society.
Volunteer drivers take cancer patients who need transportation to treatments.
Every trip Nancy Pettus makes as a driver for “Road to Recovery” is different.
“They are all going through similar situations, but every person, and how they deal with it, are different in so many ways,” said Pettus, a retired Jenks High School teacher. “Some are sad. Some are enthusiastic and determined. Some are quiet. Some want to talk.
“All of them have to deal with the possible consequences of what might or might not happen. But, regardless of the patient, it is an incredibly rewarding job. You know you are doing something to make this world a better place. You are helping people.”
Billie Fulbright, another volunteer, is the coordinator of the program in the Tulsa area.
She matches the schedules of the patients and drivers. “It is always changing,” Fulbright said. “Sometimes the appointments change times. We have to be flexible enough to make a last-minute change if needed.
“At the same time, we keep a schedule and most of the time it works. When it doesn’t, we do what we can to make it work. Sometimes, if I don’t have anyone available, I’ll get in the car and do it myself. We’re all volunteers doing what we can to make it work.”
Johnson, who is retired from the railroad, is among the most active of the volunteer drivers. He often puts in 45 to 50 hours per week taking patients to treatments.
“It started when I would take my wife and mother to cancer treatments,” Johnson said. “We would talk to people who had a hard time finding a ride.
“That got me interested. It is such a rewarding program. It is a very well-run program. It makes me proud and grateful to be a part of it.”
There are 18 volunteer drivers in the Tulsa providing about 120 rides each week. “Absolutely, we could use a lot more volunteers,” Fulbright said. “There is such a great need out there.
“In many cases, patients have friends or relatives that can give them a ride. However, that isn’t always the case. Most of the time, these patients need a ride home after the treatment because they don’t feel like driving themselves. So having a driver is just one less thing they have to worry about.”
Fulbright and Pettus are both recent retirees who were looking for things to do. “Road to Recovery” was the perfect match.
“It is such a fantastic program,” Pettus said. “These are people who need a ride. I, and many others, have the time to be able to give them a ride. It is so important for them to get to these treatments. For whatever reason, they don’t have a ride.
“I think it is a small thing we can do for people in need. And they are so thankful. They are so appreciative. That’s the one thing they all have in common. They are all so gracious and kind.”
Pettus retired from teaching about two years ago. She took the first year of retirement to fully embrace the luxury of time.
Then, within the past six months, she noticed a small story in the Tulsa World. The American Cancer Society was looking for volunteers for the “Road to Recovery” program. “It sounded like something that interested me,” Pettus said. “It sounded like something that I could do.”
She went through an orientation class and was mentored by another volunteer in the program. A few months ago she started doing the rides for patients.
“So far, most of my patients have been going in for radiation treatments,” Pettus said. “So I pick them up, take them to the treatment, wait for them, and then take them home. Total it has been about two hours per trip. It is not a huge commitment, but it has been so fulfilling. It can be very emotional. I just try to go with whatever the patient feels like. If they want to be quiet then I don’t say much. However, they often want to talk and that’s good, too.”
Pettus said she has even developed some new friends through the program. These are people going through some very serious medical treatments, so the conversations “can get pretty intense,” she said. “That makes it kind of a different situation for me. I’ve never been in that situation before. It is so delicate.”
The process to become involved is rather simple. There is an online training program followed by a background check and vehicle insurance verification.
After that, participants go through a mentoring program.“I consider this program to be a blessing for me,” Pettus said. “The people we deal with are so incredibly thankful. These are people who are dealing with unimaginable stress and pain and anticipation of what is going to happen to them.
“The important thing is how you interact. I always let them take the lead. Then, we either talk or sit quietly. We’re there for them.” Adams, Marie M., 90, child care specialist, died Feb. 2. Celebration of life 2 p.m. Tuesday (Resthaven, Oklahoma City). Dixon, Brett Allen, 49, landscaper, died Jan. 24. Services 10 a.m. Friday (Corbett, Oklahoma City).
Simpson, Margaret Darlene, 64, teacher, died Feb. 2. Prayer service 3:30 p.m. Wednesday, Gnadenfeld Cemetery, Woodward. Services 10 a.m. Wednesday (Buchanan, Oklahoma City).
Snodgrass, Jennifer Ruth, 41, died Feb. 3. Services pending (Oklahoma City Cremation, Oklahoma City).
PIEDMONT
Cohrs, Alberta Jean, 80, died Feb. 1. Services 10 a.m. Monday, First Baptist Church (MercerAdams, Bethany).
PURCELL
Horine, Vivian June, 99, retired hospital clerk, died Feb. 3. Services 11 a.m. Wednesday, First Baptist Church (Wilson Little, Purcell).
WOODWARD
Covalt, LaDon Rae, 48, died Feb. 2. Services 2 p.m. Wednesday (Billings, Woodward). Dietrich, Lonny, 61, warehouse supervisor, died Feb. 2. Services 10 a.m. Tuesday (Billings, Woodward).
YUKON
Dearneal, Kelly Ann, 59, died Jan. 29. Services 10 a.m. Wednesday, Rose Hill Mausoleum, Oklahoma City (Advantage, Oklahoma City).