It’s the eighth straight year for the Joplin-based Frank Fletcher Subaru and the Leukemia Lymphoma Society to join together to deliver plush blankets to Freeman cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy treatment.

Ninety heart-shaped blankets were dropped off Thursday afternoon at Cornell-Beshore Cancer Institute on the Freeman Health System campus.

“Receiving the blankets from an outside source is such a generous gift for our patients,” said Kathy Daugherty, Freeman’s charge chemotherapy nurse. “It just makes them feel [special].”

Cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy often experience extreme sensitivity to cold. They can feel intense chills, particularly if they are anemic or experiencing weight loss. Additionally, certain medications can contribute to an internal sensation of cold.

“They can’t touch cold things, they can’t drink cold things,” said Daugherty, “so to have a blanket when they are already having these cold experiences is a blessing for them.”

Daugherty, herself a recent cancer survivor, has a special empathetic connection with her patients. She knows what they are going through, what they are thinking and what they are experiencing when snuggling up on a chemo couch. She and her co-workers try everything they can to make their patient’s journey as positive as possible.

“Being at the cancer center doesn’t seem like a happy place, but it’s actually a happy place,” she shared. “Our patients come in here, they are happy, they are laughing with us. There are sad times, but we can get through those, and as a patient myself, it’s a great place to be. I wouldn’t want to be anywhere else.”

The blankets, which fold neatly into pillows, serve as a key component of the car manufacturer’s “Subaru Loves to Care” philanthropic program, held annually in June. Over the next few weeks, the blankets will be handed out to Freeman cancer patients.

“It’s just a joy to be able to do this and see the smiles on everyone’s faces,” said Frank Fletcher Subaru’s Sam Jubala. “It’s not just a blanket and pillow, but a little of comfort we’re able to give them.”

Each blanket, Jubala continued, represents hope, love, and warmth for Freeman’s cancer patients.

Freeman Cornell-Beshore Cancer Institute brings together the many services necessary to provide comprehensive care for patients and families dealing with cancer. Physicians and staff use the most advanced technology available to treat and overcome the many types of cancer. For more information, call 417.347.4000 or visit www.freemanhealth.com.