The staff at West Jefferson Medical Center teamed up with community volunteers to assist with some of the image concerns cancer survivors may have and created a new support group, called Courage Caps. Founder, Tabitha Dugal, a registered nurse at West Jefferson explains, explains that during active treatment patients often lose their hair. They may also be anemic contributing to a feeling of being cold, perhaps bitter cold when bald for a period of time after some cancer treatments. That’s where the support group, Courage Caps, comes in. Courage Caps is a program of the Cancer Center at West Jefferson Medical Center in Marrero, Louisiana. This is one of many support groups the Community Hospital Academic Comprehensive Cancer Program has to offer. In Courage Caps, volunteers come together to knit or crochet hats for cancer survivors. The group started at West Jefferson a little over a year ago. In addition to addressing the discomforts associated with some treatments, this effort by volunteers also demonstrates emotional support for survivors and one another. Some of the volunteers are survivors themselves or have loved ones who are survivors. Some Courage Caps are made at the Cancer Center, others in the home of volunteers. The Courage Cap group meets monthly but group members are known to work on their caps from meeting to meeting. Members bring their crochet hooks, crochet needles and yarn for the group session West Jefferson's Infusion Center. Nurse Tabitha learned to crochet from an aunt as a young child. She’s taught some of the members of the group the fine art of crocheting. Some volunteers came with the skill and knowledge of the craft. Still others turned to Youtube for lessons. The result? From the teaching sessions in the group, to DIY videos found on YouTube, thousands of caps have already been created, so many in fact, Courage Caps has donated some of its items to local shelters for the homeless and other causes. In addition to the Courage Cap originals, the volunteers have made blankets, scarves and they even make special crocheted inserts for bras (crochet breast prosthetics) to add to survivor comfort and self-esteem. The participants donate all of the products to make the Courage Caps and the group welcomes donations of yarn of all colors. To learn more, call (504) 349-1232.
