'Road To Recovery' Gives Cancer Patients A Lift, Literally
LOS ANGELES (CBSLA.com) — On any Friday, you can find Stephanie Deagle doing what she does every Friday.
"It's the best part of the week," she says.
Deagle is one of many volunteers who take part in the American Cancer Society's "Road to Recovery" program.
Members of the program give cancer patients rides to their treatments and doctor's appointments. They literally give the cancer patient a lift, in more ways than one.
"Road to Recovery is a free program to any cancer patient that needs a ride to their treatment," says Eric Biekmann with the American Cancer Society.
"I do it because I have time, and there is a need," Deagle says.
On this day, Deagle is driving Olga Choti home from her radiation appointment.
Deagle greets Choti with enthusiasm.
"This is your last appointment! Yeah!" says Deagle.
CBS2's Health Watch Reporter Lisa Sigell says it was the last of 32 radiation appointments Choti had to endure for her second bout with cancer.
Choti said her doctors and nurses at Long Beach Memorial have always been kind and supportive. But the treatments are rough.
She often look forward to her rides with Deagle. The friendly chats, the comforting words -- some times they just talk about routine stuff.
No talk of cancer or treatments or illness.
"It just makes you forget, it makes me forget about the pain I had that morning, about not having slept all night," Choti says.
While the program is free you could say it is invaluable to both the driver and the passenger.
"It's not [about] the money. I save. I have plenty of money," Choti says, "It's just that somebody cares. It's a huge difference."
She adds, "A taxi is transportation. Same as a bus. But this is a companion, this is a kind person. A good soul."
More than just having the time to volunteer, Deagle divulges that her being available to drive people like Choti to and fro is also something of a heart debt.
"It's for my mom," she says, "If it wasn't for her, I wouldn't be doing this."
Her mom died from cancer eight years ago.
"She lives through every patient I can help," Deagle says.
Choti no longer drives on freeways so she can't also volunteer. She also wishes she were a few years younger.
"If I wasn't 83," she smiles, "I would volunteer in a heartbeat."
For more information about becoming a volunteer driver with "Road to Recovery" click here.
For more information about the "Making Strides Against Breast Cancer Walk" (Sunday, Oct. 5 in Orange County), click here.
