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Tunnell Cancer Center Receives “Hope Bags” from Local Girl Scout

Lisa Henderson, RN, OCN, Oncology Nursing Manager at Beebe Healthcare’s Tunnell Cancer Center accepts “Hope Bags” from local Girl Scout Mickayla Austin. Beebe Healthcare’s Tunnell Cancer Center received 24 “hope bags” on July 23 from local 14-year-old Girl Scout Cadette, Mickayla Austin. The hope bags were Mickayla’s Girl Scout Silver Award—the highest award a Girl Scout Cadette can earn.

“I chose to make hope bags for Beebe Healthcare’s Tunnell Cancer Center because many of my family members have had cancer, so this is something close to my heart,” Mickayla said. “I would like to put a smile on someone’s face to let them know to never lose hope.”

Mickayla made 24 bags, 12 for women and 12 for men. Her project included hand-stamping designs on the bags, hand-written cards with inspirational quotes, and an introduction of herself and her project. The bags also include all the necessary items inside for the patient to feel comfortable at their cancer appointment, such as hand lotions, crackers, hard candies, word search book, and socks.

Mickayla has been working with Girl Scout troops 858/958, run by Girl Scout troop leader Tanya Sykes, to earn her Leadership in Action award. Mickayla called upon these troops to fill the hope bags, which is one of the requirements of the Silver Award Project.

Mickayla Austin with grandmother MaryAnn Matyjewicz, a breast cancer survivor who also served as Mickayla’s mentor for her Girl Scout Silver Award Project. “We are so grateful for Mickayla’s hard work on her donated hope bags and the fact she chose Tunnell Cancer Center as the focus on her Silver Award project; Mickayla is a wonderful role model to other youth in our community. Our patients truly appreciate these personal touches and knowing others in the community care,” said Lisa Henderson, RN, OCN, Oncology Nursing Manager at Beebe Healthcare’s Tunnell Cancer Center.

Should you wish to donate items for additional hope bags or assist in creating new bags, please contact Carol Hunt, Oncology Service Line Coordinator at Tunnell Cancer Center, at (302) 645-3171.

Photo 1: (shown left to right) Lisa Henderson, RN, OCN, Oncology Nursing Manager at Beebe Healthcare’s Tunnell Cancer Center accepts “Hope Bags” from local Girl Scout Mickayla Austin.

Photo 2: (shown left to right) Mickayla Austin with grandmother MaryAnn Matyjewicz, a breast cancer survivor who also served as Mickayla’s mentor for her Girl Scout Silver Award Project.