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!
Fondly, Barbara and Jack, our Board, and our volunteers
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.
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.
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.
The Fall 2020 CC Newsletter.
I have tried to keep up our social media with accurate information on COVID-19 and encouraging emails to the many cancer patients and families who are feeling more isolated than ever. Thank you to the many patients and caregivers who have stayed in touch and have responded to our invitation to call and email us if they need any help. For some people, just having someone to talk to who understands what they are going through, can make a difference. I want to also suggest that you contact the Cancer Support Community at www.cscaz.org for information on their calendar of virtual support groups and activities, including bi-lingual meetings.
I am awed and inspired by the ways that that people are ‘coping’ with COVID-19.
Dear Friends,
While we are ‘cooped up’ here on Earth, I wanted to share these photos of the astronauts returning home from Space.
As Jack and I sat and watched this amazing event, our Spirits were lifted and our Hope for Health and Peace were lifted too!
TGen and HonorHealth Initiate COVID-19
Combination Therapy of Atovaquone and Azithromycin
Established combination seen as safer option for coronavirus therapy; will add data to TGen COVID Immunity Study and virus sequencing efforts
Thank you Tgen and Honor Health for your collaboration on behalf of new treatment for COPID19 which we read about in the AzBio News this week. We are so proud to know you and to be able to share this exciting news with the thousands of cancer patients and caregivers in our AzMN network. You bring great Hope to so many and help us remain strong in these scary and lonely times.
March 1st 2020
Dear Friends:
We have been through a lot together over the past 16 years since Arizona Myeloma Network, AzMN™ was founded with this Mission: Awareness. Education. Advocacy.
We want you to know that in spite of Covid-19 we will continue to ‘be there’ for you now, during this difficult and scary time. We are including a list of resources that are available with information and assistance. We are reaching out to all cancer patients, caregivers/families, and healthcare professionals. You can email or call us anytime, day or night at my email and my home office phone number listed below. I have a team of volunteers who will help me respond, whether you have a question, specific concern or just need to hear a friendly voice or a ‘virtual’ hug!
We know it will take time to get back to our normal programs, but we are optimistic and have already begun planning the 2nd Annual Cancer CareGivers Awareness Week™, November 14 – 21, with a Proclamation from Governor Ducey. There will be a “ReUnion” Cancer Patient and Caregivers Conference to celebrate our brave patients and families and the wonderful researchers, doctors, nurses, social workers and other healthcare professionals.
Right now it is hard to think about the future when we are all anxious about our own health and the loss of jobs and savings. But, we at AzMN want to remind everyone that our 1st priority is to take care of ourselves and our loved ones. For Caregivers, you need to do what is best to protect your own health so that you can take care of the patient.
For the medical community, you too need to take care of your own health and that of your family so that you can take the best care of your patients.
We are especially grateful to the 1st Responders, researchers, doctors and nurses for their courageous service and dedication. Our thoughts and prayers are with you.
It is important to try and keep in mind that Spring is coming, and many of us will be celebrating Easter and Passover. It can be a time of faith and renewal. Remember, love and hope are still the best medicine!
Fondly,
Barbara and Jack Kavanagh
Thank you Coyotes From Arizona Myeloma Network…
You are Winners!
February 4th, 2020
Your Silent Auction Prize of the President’s Box for 18 was greatly appreciated and allows us to continue our free cancer patient and caregivers programs for Arizona!
Barbara and Jack Kavanagh, Co-Founders
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 28-year journey that has taken us to 5 countries and 3 U.S. states. Over the years, my husband 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 caregiver and patient 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
Many thanks to our sponsors!
It was an exciting evening for Barbara Kavanagh and AzMN’s Cancer Caregivers Programs. She accepted the Congressional Recognition Award for her dedication to all cancer patients and caregiver services.
It was awarded in a small, outdoor ceremony by Staff member,Monica Yelin, on behalf of Congresswoman Debbie Lesko. A great way for us to begin our Virtual Walk/Race Family Fun Event. Register Now and the Event concludes on December 21st.
Save the Date in 2020
Nov 14th – 21st
Governor’s Proclamation
AZ Cancer Caregivers Awareness Week!
Nov 21st – Dec 21st
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 28 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
A Successful Year and
End of a Decade: 2019
December 17th
‘Strike Out Cancer’, was held December 17th at the Millennium Hotel. AzMN’s Benefit to Honor and Celebrate Cancer Patients and Caregivers.
Special thanks to Derrick Hall and the Diamondbacks foundation for sponsoring this event.
December 7th, 9am-12:30pm
AzMN and Cancer Support Community sponsored a Free Cancer Caregivers Seminar: ’Coping with Cancer for the Holidays’, a program for All Cancer Caregivers and Families.
November 18th, 7:30am
AzTV appearance on Monday Morning, November 18th.
View Episode
November 16-23rd
The 1st Governor’s Proclamation for Cancer Caregivers Awareness Week in the U.S.
’Be Thankful for your Cancer CareGiver’. November is Caregivers month and November 16th- 23rd is Cancer CareGivers Awareness Week!
Help support AzMN's free cancer education and advocacy programs through Amazon Smile
When you make purchases online please use our link www.smile.amazon.com and Amazon gives back to AzMN to help us continue our free cancer caregivers’ programs.
You can also use this free Chrome browser extension Smilematic that will automatically turn your everyday Amazon purchases into AmazonSmile donations. Get it here.