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Patient creates emotive cards for loved ones who struggle with cancer

Shared by Patricia Pereira on 2015-06-15 17:17

About the solution

For her the most difficult part of her illness wasn’t losing her hair, or being erroneously called ‘sir’ by Starbucks baristas, or sickness from chemo, it was the loneliness and isolation she felt when many of her close friends and family members disappeared because they didn’t know what to say, or said the absolute wrong thing without realizing it.

The designer has been cancer-free ever since. But the emotional impact of the experience lingered, inspiring her to design a newly launched series of Empathy Cards—emotionally direct greeting cards that say the things she wanted to hear when she was ill.

She hopes that the Empathy Cards provide “better, more authentic ways to communicate about sickness and suffering” between patients and friends and loved ones suffering from cancer, chronic illness, mental illness, or other hardships. They are by turns earnest and world-weary, and good-humored without false cheer.

Adapted from: http://slate.me/1P0BE52

More info: http://info.emilymcdowell.com/

This solution shall not include mention to the use of drugs, chemicals or biologicals (including food); invasive devices; offensive, commercial or inherently dangerous content. This solution was not medically validated. Proceed with caution! If you have any doubts, please consult with a health professional.

DISCLAIMER: This story was written by someone who is not the author of the solution, therefore please be advised that, although it was written with the utmost respect for the innovation and the innovator, there can be some incorrect statements. If you find any errors please contact the patient Innovation team via info@patient-innovation.com

About the author

Emily McDowell, from USA, is a designer who was diagnosed with Stage 3 Hodgkin’s lymphoma at age 24, enduring nine months of chemo and radiation before going into remission. Because she wanted people to communicate with her with the right words, she invented Empathy Cards — emotionally direct greeting cards that say the things she wanted to hear when she was ill.

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