Mary Garcia, 59, is battling lung cancer, thyroid cancer and melanoma in her lymph nodes. More than the disease, she says the financial strain of treatment — rent, groceries, car and insurance payments, and gas — has been the hardest part for her and her family.
OhioHealth Mansfield Hospital’s Oncology Navigators connect patients like Garcia with clinical guidance and social support. Garcia works with Tammy McChristy-Weaver, an oncology nurse navigator who answers clinical questions, and Gillian Garverick, a social work navigator who links patients to local resources and hospital funds.
“If a patient were to come and say, ‘I can’t afford rent, I can’t get groceries, I can’t get to my appointments,’ I’d be the go-to to help connect them to local resources or other resources that we have here at the hospital to help get them access to food, access to financial assistance,” Garverick said.
Garcia has received help through Catholic Charities and OhioHealth funds. She keeps every gas card she’s been given as a reminder that people are willing to help. “When you have somebody not related to you and not close to you say, ‘what can I do to help you?’ it takes the weight off the shoulders,” she said.
Garcia says the support has made her feel less alone on her cancer journey. She encourages other patients to accept help from navigators who can assist with both practical needs and emotional support.
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