CCA donates chemotherapy chairs, pumps

The Commonwealth Health Center was at the receiving end yesterday morning of two chemotherapy chairs and two CADD Prism Pumps that were donated to help cancer patients in the CNMI.

The Commonwealth Cancer Association donated a total of $13,241 for the chairs and the pumps. The chairs are going to be used for patients receiving chemotherapy or transfusions and the pumps are for remote delivery of chemotherapy and pain medication.

Department of Public Health Secretary James Hofschneider, Pharmacy manager Anthony E. Raho, Dr. Robin Shearer and nurse Erina Otkeniil accepted the donations from CCA officers and members Hans Mickelson, Kim Prinz and Bobbi Grizzard.

Raho said the pumps would be of great help to the patients and the hospital. He said the pumps have four major functions: chemotherapy, deliver patient control analgesia, delivery control of antibiotics, and delivery of total nutrition of patients.

The pumps could also be used to treat patients at home, said Raho. Due to its portability, patients may be allowed to take the device home, so long as patients really need it and are qualified to take one of the devices home.

The chairs, he said, complement the use of chemotherapy, so that patients will be in a comfortable position while undergoing treatment.

CCA chair Mickelson said that, being a cancer survivor himself, the donation makes him and his group happy with the assistance that they could give to other cancer patients in the CNMI.

Other CCA officials include vice chair Ivan Quichocho of Continental Airlines, government relations Alex Sablan from Saipan Shipping, treasurer David Burger from Burger & Associates, and CCA program director Christine Kapileo.

Mickelson said the funds they used for the donation came from last year’s Marianas March Against Cancer and other fundraising events.

The CCA Committee is the administrative organization dealing with cancer awareness, education and outreach issues in the CNMI.

The Marianas March Against Cancer is the fundraising arm of CCA and is the principal source of funds for the CCA.

Mickelson is inviting everyone again to this year’s MMAC’s annual signature event, an overnight fundraising by individuals and teams. The event will be held Friday night from May 13 to Saturday morning, May 14.

Mickelson is also inviting individuals looking for more cancer-related information to contact the CCA Committee office at 682-0050 or go online at acs.pwi@vzpacifica.net.