Fort HealthCare Receives $4,000 Grant from Tomorrow’s Hope to Provide Personalized Care Packages for Breast Cancer Patients

FORT ATKINSON – Fort HealthCare proudly announces that it has received a $4,000 grant from Tomorrow’s Hope to create 75 personalized care packages for breast cancer patients in the hospital’s Breast Care Program. These care packages are designed to provide both emotional and medical support for breast cancer patients as they navigate their treatment journeys.

This new initiative aims to ease the burden on these patients by offering comfort, guidance, and essential resources through thoughtfully curated care packages. These packages will include practical tools like pocket calendars for appointment scheduling, guided journals for emotional expression, weighted eye masks, socks, and other comforting items. This project directly aligns with Tomorrow’s Hope’s mission to offer meaningful support to individuals facing life-limiting illnesses, providing patients with both immediate and long-term emotional and medical care during their treatment.

“Every patient diagnosed with breast cancer is unique with their own story,” said Allison Wisch, RN, Breast Program Care Coordinator at Fort HealthCare. “Thanks to Tomorrow’s Hope, we can create personalized care packages that address their individual needs. Our intention is to remind them they are supported by our Breast Care team, but more importantly, that cancer does not define who they are. Each patient is special to our team, and we strive to make their journey as smooth as possible. A meaningful gift like this can go a long way when life takes an unexpected turn.”

This initiative reflects Fort HealthCare’s continued commitment to improving patient care through community partnerships. “We are deeply grateful to Tomorrow’s Hope for their continued partnership and support,” said Jamie Clementi, MD, General Surgeon, Fellowship-Trained Breast Surgeon, and Breast Care Expert at Fort HealthCare. “These care packages will provide an essential lifeline for our patients during a challenging time, offering not just physical items, but the emotional reassurance that they are not alone in their fight against breast cancer.”

Tomorrow’s Hope has a long history of collaboration with Fort Memorial Hospital, supporting initiatives such as the Paxman Scalp Cooling System for chemotherapy patients, Breast Cancer Awareness Month events, and fundraising efforts like the Hoops for Hope event. These ongoing partnerships continue to make a lasting impact on the lives of those affected by cancer. “We are thrilled to be part of this impactful project,” said Todd Wiedenhoeft, Executive Director at Tomorrow’s Hope. “It’s a privilege to support Fort Memorial Hospital’s efforts to provide compassionate care and emotional support to those battling breast cancer in our community.”

Fort Memorial Hospital serves 50-60 breast cancer patients annually, a number expected to grow with the expansion of its Breast Care program. The first round of care packages will be distributed beginning in January 2025, and ongoing distributions will continue through 2025 and 2026 as new patients begin their treatments.

Fort Memorial Hospital is committed to improving the health and well-being of the community and looks forward to continuing its partnership with Tomorrow’s Hope to make a meaningful difference in the lives of those facing life-limiting illnesses.

Pictured Left to Right – Kathie Roth, Fort HealthCare Radiology Coordinator; Suzanne Koehn, Fort HealthCare Radiologic Technologist; Tammy Schwartz; Kathi Chady, Fort HealthCare Radiologic Technologist; Todd Wiedenhoeft (back), Tomorrow’s Hope Executive Director; Kevin Ryan (back); Carolyn Neibler; Alyssa Zimmerman, Fort HealthCare Radiologic Technologist; Kristina Green (back), Fort HealthCare Ultrasonographer; Allison Wisch (holding check), Fort HealthCare Breast Care Coordinator; Molly Prater (back), Fort HealthCare Community Health Programmer/Grant Compliance Lead; Taylor Schumacher, Fort HealthCare Materials Management Coordinator; Katie Luebke (holding check), Fort HealthCare Radiology Manager; Lisa Jensen, Fort HealthCare Vice President of Nursing Services and Chief Nursing Officer; Jim Nelson, Fort HealthCare CFO/SVP.

About Tomorrow’s Hope

The founders of Tomorrow’s Hope established the organization to offer meaningful support to individuals and families facing life-limiting illnesses. Their work focuses on offering emotional, financial, and practical support to help those navigating serious health challenges. Through their leadership, Tomorrow’s Hope strives to make a positive impact in the community by offering hope and support to those in need. Please visit Tomorrow’sHope.org for more information.