Bend teen prepares ‘chemo kits’ for patients
Undergoing chemotherapy is extremely trying on cancer patients. One 13-year-old Bend girl has created a cancer care package for those going through treatment.
Lidiana Todoroff, an eighth-grader at Pilot Butte Middle School, has created “chemo kits” to help cancer patients through chemotherapy sessions. She originally started raising money for the kits with her school’s chamber ensemble.
“I originally just wanted to donate money to cancer patients,” Lidiana said Sunday. “Then I wanted to make it more personal and took it the next step to making something for the cancer patients.”
The kits carry a variety of items, including a pillow, blanket, hand sanitizer, gloves, a journal and a planner.
Lidiana said she is confident these kits can brighten a patient’s day. She knows from personal experience: Her mom, Gina Todoroff, was diagnosed with Stage 4 colon cancer in 2015.
“It’s nice to have things that are yours to bring, like the blanket, because they do give you a blanket, but it’s nice to have your own blanket or pillow,” Gina said. “You’re actually hooked up to a machine, so it’s really hard to walk around or get around when you’re sitting in a chair anywhere from four to six hours.”
Lidiana plans to deliver the chemo kits directly to the cancer patients. She asked her mom what the essentials might be during chemotherapy sessions and grew the kit from there.
She said she watches her mom curl up in a chair really sick while undergoing treatment, and it’s extremely sad to see her like that. She doesn’t want other cancer patients to feel bad.
Lotion, socks and snacks are placed neatly into the bag. She also gives them a personalized note, so they don’t feel alone during treatment.
Lidiana said she hopes these kits will give their recipients some inspiration and comfort.
I’ve been doing treatments every week or every other week since I’ve been diagnosed, and sometimes you just get really tired of it,” Gina said. “But just knowing she’s there to support me helps me through it.”
If you would like to donate or learn more about Lidiana’s “chemo kits,” you can visit her GoFundMe page at:
