Day 100 – 100 Thanks to 100 People!

Day 100 marks the end of Jeff’s “early recovery” following his bone marrow transplant on May 27^th.  Mask and gloves can go!  The neutropenic diet can be relaxed.  Woo Hoo!

To commemorate Day 100, Jeff and I want to thank 100 people (111 people, actually) for their willingness to help our family.  My coworkers at Rider University donated vacation and personal days to me so that I could have paid time to take care of Jeff.  My own leave time ran out following Jeff’s six-week hospital stay for his transplant, his second extended hospital stay in four months.  More time was donated than Rider’s policy allows and Jeff and I are grateful for each offer, regardless of whether it was taken or not.  The donated time meant not only continued income but also that my health care premiums continued to be covered through payroll deductions.  That is no small thing for a BMT patient!

When I returned to work at the end of July, I mentioned to Helen, a friend at Rider, that I wanted to write hand-written thank you notes to the lovely people who donated days to me.  At the time, I only knew that it was “a lot of people.”  Helen was shocked and blurted, “You can’t do that!”  I asked, “Why not?”  She said, “That’s too many people!”  I told her it seemed like the polite thing to do. I hadn’t seen the list of people yet. 

When Debbie, the Director of my department, gave me the list, I cried.  She cried with me (so much for her tough-gal image).  On that list are names of people I know well, some I barely know and some I have not met.  Some are caring for family members themselves.  Some are cancer survivors.  They are fellow AFSCME union members, administrators and facilities workers.  They are from both the Lawrenceville and Westminster campuses.  They are from departments across the university:  Disbursements (my office), Enrollment, HR, OIT, Athletics, Cash Management, Budget, Auxiliary Services, the Dean’s Office, the Vice President’s Office, Mail Services, Moore Library, Residence Life, CIE, academic departments and more. 

Holding that list felt like I was holding a treasure.  Now I understood why Barb, my supervisor, described our office as having a “revolving door” when the request for donated time was sent out.  She said that many of these people came to the office personally to offer their time and to ask about Jeff.

I took the list home and showed it to my family.  Over dinner I shared what I knew about these kind people.  We celebrated my job at Rider and the generosity of the employees there.  Four years ago - on the day after Labor Day, in fact - I began working at Rider University and how glad I am for it! 

Jeff has been known to moan when I bring home another “deal” from the Rider store or a free T-shirt from a Rider event.  He insists he has enough Rider attire (Is there such a thing?).  During his hospital stay he wore a few Drexel shirts - two of our children are alum - and a lot of Rider shirts.  One nurse asked him, “What’s with all the Rider shirts?”  Jeff pointed to his shirt and said, “Hey!  These people are taking care of me!”  We are grateful for good health insurance and for the compassion of the Rider community.

Love and 100 thanks to my coworkers at Rider University!