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Daffodils brighten oncology patients’ day at Methodist Hospitals
With a $500 personal donation from pathologist Elizabeth Sengupta, M.D.,
Methodist Hospitals purchased and presented daffodils to all oncology and radiation oncology patients at its campuses in Gary and Merrillville as part of the American Cancer Society Daffodil Days fundraising project. Methodist raised nearly $3,000 for the cancer research, education and advocacy with the project that was spearheaded by the hospital’s breast care nurse Shellie Rowe.
As a pathologist, Sengupta doesn’t spend much time with patients. Her work is done is a laboratory, but she said, "When I heard about the project, I thought it would be a great thing to do to brighten our patients’ day."
Rowe, Sengupta and Billie Childress delivered daffodils to patients in the hospital this week. Childress is an RN at Methodist who is currently in remission after a bout with breast cancer.
"Billie is a great resource for me in talking with patients who have been diagnosed with breast cancer," according to Rowe. "She is an excellent motivator and she helps the patients focus on keeping a positive attitude."
Childress said, "During treatments the best thing someone with cancer can do is stay positive. You have to remember, cancer isn’t a death sentence anymore. Early detection and treatment really do save lives."
Daffodil Days is a nationwide fundraiser held by the American Cancer Society each spring. Signaling nature’s rebirth at the beginning of spring, daffodils represent a spirit of hope that cancer can be cured. Over the last 30 years, the sale of the flowers has brought significant resources to the fight against cancer, including research, education, advocacy and patient services.
Sarah Thomas, an oncology patient at Methodist Hospitals Northlake Campus, talks with Billie Childress, RN, (standing, left) and Dr. Elizabeth Sengupta after receiving daffodils from the pair. | 
