Kansas City, Mo.– A local florist is partnering with the Breast Center at St. Joseph Medical Center to help lift the spirits of mastectomy patients. Sidelines Custom Floral Design delivers free floral arrangements to patients during their overnight stays.
Janie Metsker, Nurse Navigator, got the idea to give flowers to mastectomy patients while visiting a friend in the hospital. “I saw how flowers brightened the room and thought it would be so nice if we could figure out a way to give flowers to our patients having a mastectomy,” she said.
Metsker approached Karyn Brooke, the owner of Sidelines Custom Floral Design, which provides the floral arrangements sold in SJ’s Gift Shop. Brooke immediately jumped on board with the idea. “My mom had breast cancer when I was in second grade, so my life was touched by the disease at an early age,” she said. “Flowers lift the spirits of people and I can’t think of anyone who could use that more than a mastectomy patient.”
“The patients love it,” said Metsker. “They are delighted to receive flowers and it makes them smile.”
St. Joseph Medical Center is an acute care facility of Carondelet Health (CarondeletHealth.org) which also includes St. Mary’s Medical Center, three long-term care facilities and home care services. Carondelet Health is dedicated to the healing ministry of Jesus Christ. Our commitment to human dignity compels us to provide compassionate, quality healthcare for body, mind and spirit, with a special concern for the poor. We are responsible stewards serving the needs of all people from conception to death. Carondelet Health is a member of Ascension Health, the nation’s largest Catholic and nonprofit health system.