One woman’s idea - and the power of the internet - is bringing smiles and a few tears to the faces of Illini Community Hospital cancer patients.

Robin Wainman of Pittsfield loves her community and Illini Community Hospital.  A registered nurse, Robin began working at Illini as a nursing assistant before entering nursing school. After becoming a registered nurse, she enjoyed a long career at the hospital and today continues to serve the people of her community as a home health nurse.

Robin also has a family connection with the care provided at Illini. Her late father was treated for lung cancer at the Illini Outpatient Oncology Clinic. Robin said her father’s journey was brief, but during the time he spent at Illini all the staff were truly amazing.  

“He and our family were all treated very kindly,” she said. “All the staff went above and beyond their job descriptions to deliver exceptional care. His comfort was always a primary goal and concern. The staff treated him like he was family.”

“I really appreciated having their support and how they always answered my questions, and I had many, with patience,” Robin continued. “We are all very blessed to have this necessary resource right here in our community.”

Robin’s experiences led her to want to do something to help people of the community being treated for cancer.  

In addition to her nursing career, Robin is an independent sales consultant with Thirty-One Gifts. Through the company, she could get tote bags at a discount and wanted to give the totes to patients being treated at the Illini Outpatient Oncology Clinic.

Robin shared her plan on Facebook to get sponsors for 20 chemo care totes. Within two hours the 20 totes were sponsored. People continued to respond. The goal was increased to 30 and finally to 50 totes. Other people generously offered to donate money to the cause to help purchase items to fill the totes.

“I was overwhelmed by the support,” she said. “It was heart-warming.”

With the donations, Robin was able to fill the totes with a large variety of items including LuLa Roe leggings and shirts, Young and Living Peppermint Oil, Mary Kay and Posh lotions, socks, adult coloring books and pencils, gum, mints, hand sanitizer; Chap Stick, lotion and Kleenex.

The totes were delivered to Illini in in early March.

“My staff and I feel truly humbled and blessed by the outpouring of support from Robin Wainman and others in the community that joined her in this venture to provide our oncology patients with care packages,” said Brenda Barton, RN, nurse manager, Outpatient Services, Illini Community Hospital.
“One patient became tearful when receiving her tote and another said, ‘That is so nice. It feels like Christmas,’” Brenda stated.