Cancercaregiversaz.com

Barbara and Jack with Brad Perry, on the Morning Mix, aztv! Jack’s words of hope as a 30 year cancer survivor are very welcome in these scary times. Barbara also shared advice with other caregivers on how to take care of themselves and also help keep the patient healthy during COVID. Both have had their vaccine and recommend cancer patients and caregivers talk to their doctor about getting their vaccine.

Congresswoman Lesko Weekly Update

Monica from our office presented a Congressional Recognition to Barbara Baroff Kavanagh, the founder and CEO of the Arizona Myeloma Network, a non-profit that helps patients with Myeloma, a type of blood cancer. Barbara Baroff Kavanaugh founded the organization in 2004 to educate and raise awareness for the disease and advocate for Myeloma patients after her husband survived the disease.

CARE Act Extended for 2020-2021

‘You can still help cancer patients and caregivers by donating ‘now’ for 2020 and 2021. Your donation of $300 per person or $600 per couple is available. We need your help more than ever as we continue our free cancer education and resource services ‘virtually’. You can contact us by phone.

Thanks to the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act – passed by Congress this spring – each family in the US is eligible for a one-time $300 charitable tax deduction.

Here’s how it works. If you give $300 this year to a qualifying 501(c)(3) nonprofit like Arizona Myeloma Network, AzMN, you can claim it as a deduction, even if you (like most American families) take the standard deduction.

For donors who itemize their deductions, the CARES Act temporarily lifts the deduction cap of annual gross income (AGI) to qualified charities like AzMN from 60% to 100%. This means that in some situations, you could actually pay zero income tax for the year.

Donate Now

P.S. Please note that we are not attorneys or financial planners. It is important to consult a trusted professional about all decisions related to taxes.

We Will Survive™!

Dear Friends:

We look back on the ‘year that was’ and feel grateful that we did ‘Survive’ and are still Surviving. Not without pain, fear, loss, loneliness but also with new knowledge, understanding and awe. We saw advances in the research and treatment of COVID and also in cancer. We also learned that through collaboration and dedication, so much more can be accomplished. For cancer patients and caregivers, we had to be even more vigilant to stay strong and safe. We are very fortunate to have the scientists, medical staff, healthcare professionals and all of the 1st Responders who have been there for us. We now have better ‘tools’ for treating this devastating Virus and Vaccines that will save lives, jobs, and help us return to a new ‘normal’.

We have heard from many of you that you are concerned about getting the vaccine. Some of you are choosing to ‘wait’. It is your choice. But, we hope that you will look at the links on our website with the latest facts and information from leading scientific resources. Jack and I have had our 1st shot and will have the 2nd one this week. We have had no negative effects and are still remaining careful. We feel that it is the right decision for us and one that makes us feel less anxious. We recently had the opportunity to appear on aztv about Cancer and COVID. https://youtu.be/AGje6RcJWSc

We appreciated this opportunity to share our own experience and advice with other cancer patients and families. Before you make any decision, be sure to talk to your doctor. And, remember that regardless of the vaccine, you need to continue a healthy lifestyle: eat right. get your sleep, get outdoors if possible, and communicate with friends and family even if it is only virtually. A reminder to all of the caregivers out there:’If you don’t take care of yourself, you can’t take care of someone else’. And, we are always available by phone or email if you have any questions or concerns.

Warm Regards, Barbara and Jack
623 570 0371
barbarak@azmyelomanetwork.org

Thank you everyone for participating and supporting our 1st Annual Virtual Cancer Caregivers Awareness Race! You can still purchase our official ‘We Will Survive 2020’ tee shirt or donate online. Stay Well and Safe!

You can still purchase our Collectible ‘We Will Survive™2020 tee shirt & Racing Bib. Every $$ counts!

Special thanks to longtime supporter, BHHS Legacy Foundation, for their generous grant for Phase 1 of our new Virtual Cancer Caregivers Educational Programs.

And, It is not too late or too early to make your own 2021 ‘tax-deductible donation under the extended CARE Act.

https://bhhslegacy.org/

The Cancer Caregivers AZ ™ Mission:

Our Mission is to Promote Collaboration, Build Awareness, Provide Education and Resources that Build Caregivers Skills and Advocate for Improved Treatment and Quality of Life for Cancer Patients, their Families, and All Cancer Caregivers.

Thank you to the Governor for recognizing the importance of Cancer Caregivers who are also ‘First Responders’ during the Covid crisis.

The State of Arizona declares
“Cancer Caregivers Awareness Week”
November 14th-21st, 2020

Barbara Kavanagh, Founder and CEO, AzMN®, appearing on Az Daily Mix AZTV7 with Brad Perry.
www.aztv.com

THANK YOU Kurt and Los Sombreros for all the support you have shown to us for many years! We invite everyone to please support your local small businesses.
www.lossombreros.com

Save the Date in 2020

Nov 14^th – 21^st
Governor’s Proclamation
AZ Cancer Caregivers Awareness Week!

Nov 21^st – Dec 21^st 1st Annual Virtual Cancer Caregivers Awareness Race

Spring 2021 Book Release

“Living with Cancer, a
CareGivers Journey©”

A guide for cancer patients, families and
Healthcare professionals

By Barbara Kavanagh, M.S.W., L.C.S.W., cancer caregiver with her husband, Jack Kavanagh, a 29 year cancer survivor.

We are proud and grateful for the amazing guest authors, including leading cancer researchers and
specialists, information on early diagnosis, new treatments, 2nd opinions, and other important topics.

The Honor Wall
The Honor Wall gives people the opportunity to donate $150 in honor of a loved one or just ‘donate’ even if you do not wish to write a tribute. $25, $50, $100, or any amount.
Make Donation/Tribute

Covid-19 Information / Links

If you have questions, please contact your local health department listed at:

Az Dept of Health Services Protecting cancer patients amid coronavirus: How to safely offer support Arizona / Maricopa County COVID link COVID-19 vaccine: Guidance from Mayo Clinic

Our Holiday Gift to Cancer Caregivers
is our handy guide and advice.

This guide shares Barbara’s blogs that were published by AARP Colorado from June 2018 to January 2020. These blogs describe actual patient stories and shares tips for caregivers. Also included are a variety of resources for the cancer caregiver.

It is our desire that the items shared within this guide will assist caregivers in discovering strengths within themselves they may not have known they possess, so that they can better meet their caregiving challenges.

We are giving away this guide in PDF format,
donations are welcomed.

Get the Guide

Spring 2021 Book Release
Living with Cancer, a CareGivers Journey®

My writing journey is well underway! The goal of this project is to provide insights and resources that will lead the reader to be a more educated cancer patient and a more effective cancer caregiver.

It has been a 29-year journey that has taken us to 5 countries and 3 U.S. states. Over the years, Jack and I have had to find oncologists wherever we lived. We have been fortunate that they were willing to communicate and collaborate with top myeloma specialists at the Mayo Clinic and Dana Farber Cancer Institute. And, now many years later, they have generously offered to contribute their own knowledge and experience to my book, ‘Living with Cancer, a CareGivers Journey ®.

It is not just the cancer patient who is affected by a cancer diagnosis; it affects the entire family, their circle of friends, those in the patient’s workplace, and beyond. The book will include information and resources for the cancer patients, caregivers, and families, who are such an important part of the cancer team and who are searching for help and hope!

This book will be an invaluable tool for those who have cancer, work with cancer patients, research cancer, educate about cancer and work to bring about improvements in a cancer patient’s quality of life. We are inviting you, the cancer patient and the caregiver, to share your own story and also take the caregiver survey so that we can educate others who are on this journey as well.

Best Regards,
Barbara

Barbarak@azmyelomanetwork.org

Meet the Founders

Honor Wall

Arizona Myeloma Network’s Honor Wall was developed as a way for family and friends to honor and remember their loved ones who have been touched by cancer.

Cancer Caregivers Survey

We welcome your caregiver ‘feedback’ so that we can continue moving forward in making our cancer caregiver programs even more effective both for caregivers as well as the patients they ‘care for’.

Please fill out the caregiver survey . If you don’t choose to answer some of the questions, or wish to add information,that is fine. You can include your name or not.We will collate the responses and share the ‘results’ both on our website and in the Book.

Share Your Story

We invite cancer caregivers/families to send us your story of how you have coped with your loved one’s cancer diagnosis and treatment. And, please offer your own ‘advice’ and suggestions for what others can do to help. All of your stories are important to us, and may be selected for future newsletters, the Book, and/or on our website. We will not include your name unless we have your written permission. Maximum words: 600

‘Decade’ of Caregiver Photos

Visit our Photo Gallery

Thank you Cancer Support Community for hosting our annual free Holiday Stress Seminar for all Cancer Caregivers. Pictured above: Debbie DiCarlo, CEO, CSCAZ, Barbara, CEO, AzMN and Jessica Wells, MSW, Ironwood Cancer Center, volunteers , patients & caregivers.