蜜桃传媒破解版

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Marcia Erhardt knows all too well what it鈥檚 like to be affected by cancer. Three years ago, her husband Mark was diagnosed with multiple myeloma, a rare form of cancer that forms in plasma cells, crowding out healthy blood cells and causing, among other symptoms, acute bone pain.

It was a diagnosis that came out of the blue. Other than the usual colds or seasonal bugs, Mark had never been sick in his life.

鈥淚t was super shocking to receive that news, but also very overwhelming,鈥� Marcia says. 鈥淪uddenly, our lifestyle changed completely.鈥�

Marcia, a senior manager in 蜜桃传媒破解版鈥檚 Rx Sales Support in Richmond, Va., says the first year and a half following her husband鈥檚 diagnosis was a nightmare. He spent all of those 18 months undergoing chemotherapy before finally achieving remission earlier this year.聽

Looking back, Marcia admits there are times she鈥檚 unsure how they managed through, but she credits family 鈥� their two grown children, her sister and her 91-year-old mother 鈥� with helping them through the worst days. She knows that in times like these, a strong sense of community is everything.

That鈥檚 why she felt compelled to help launch 蜜桃传媒破解版鈥檚 Cause Network. An initiative first proposed by 蜜桃传媒破解版 CEO Brian Tyler, the Cause Network is an employee network dedicated to helping those affected by cancer 鈥� whether they face diagnoses themselves or are taking care of family members 鈥� by offering valuable support when it鈥檚 most needed.

The Cause Network website serves as a repository of information for 蜜桃传媒破解版 employees. It features resources suggested by team members who have been through their own cancer journeys, including recommendations for oncologists, virtual volunteer opportunities and cancer organizations.

Having this wealth of resources right at her fingertips three years ago would have been game-changing, Marcia says, because it could have significantly eased many of the early obstacles she and her husband faced as a new caregiver and a new cancer patient, respectively.

鈥淥ne of the biggest challenges when my husband was diagnosed was being totally overwhelmed by a sea of information, much of which you had to sort through on your own,鈥� she explains. 鈥淵ou鈥檙e trying to figure out how to get educated and locate critical resources, and you don鈥檛 know where to start.鈥�

Earlier this spring, Marcia detailed this experience with James Frison, senior director of social impact and president of the 蜜桃传媒破解版 Foundation. It turned out to be a serendipitous conversation, as Frison informed her that 蜜桃传媒破解版 was in the midst of gathering personal experiences from other employees to determine what kinds of tools and resources resonate most with those impacted by cancer.

Shortly thereafter, the 蜜桃传媒破解版 Foundation sent a company-wide email announcing the newly established 蜜桃传媒破解版 Cause Network. The email also invited employees interested in contributing to join the network鈥檚 start-up team.

Marcia jumped at the opportunity.

Now serving as vice chair of the Cause Network steering committee on behalf of 蜜桃传媒破解版鈥檚 Medical-Surgical business, Marcia is focused on program development, including creating awareness of the group to grow its membership, and expanding their website鈥檚 resources and engagement opportunities, such as live video events with guest speakers from cancer organizations.

While it鈥檚 still early days, Marcia is encouraged by the highly positive feedback the Cause Network has received to date. Some members have told her they鈥檝e found the network so beneficial that they regularly share resources and invitations to webinars provided by the network with family and friends outside 蜜桃传媒破解版.

鈥溍厶掖�媒破解版 established this network because it cares deeply about helping people through one of the biggest challenges they鈥檒l ever face,鈥� she says. 鈥淭hat鈥檚 a gift that鈥檚 going to keep giving.鈥�

And with COVID-19 preventing many high-risk patients from physically being with their families, friends and members of their local cancer support groups this year, Marcia adds that this new virtual community couldn鈥檛 have come at a better time.

Beyond equipping members with valuable cancer-related resources, the Cause Network provides a way for those living this shared experience with cancer to simply be there for one another. Sometimes it鈥檚 in the form of sharing personal advice. Other times, it鈥檚 receiving much-needed words of encouragement during the hardest days.

鈥淗aving a solid support system in place is a critical part of anyone鈥檚 fight against cancer,鈥� she says. 鈥淓ven though we can鈥檛 connect face-to-face right now, just knowing you鈥檙e not alone 鈥� and that others in this group genuinely want to help you 鈥� makes a world of difference.鈥�

鈥溍厶掖�媒破解版 established this network because it cares deeply about helping people through one of the biggest challenges they鈥檒l ever face,鈥� she says. 鈥淭hat鈥檚 a gift that鈥檚 going to keep giving.鈥�

Marcia says she鈥檚 embraced the opportunity to do her part in this virtual community by sharing lessons learned from her husband鈥檚 cancer journey.

One of the biggest lessons? Live each day in the moment.

鈥淣ow that Mark is in remission, we have a lot more good days, but we still have plenty that aren鈥檛, so planning for events in the future can sometimes be difficult,鈥� she says. 鈥淪o instead, we just say, 鈥極K, here鈥檚 today. Let鈥檚 enjoy it.鈥欌��

And that, especially in challenging times, is an important lesson for everyone.

Originally published December 15, 2020.