Alone In The Hospital During COVID-I9, Ovarian Cancer Survivor, Joanne Messeri, Created A Neighborhood Prayer Tree

Like most cancer patients, Messeri has been careful about avoiding infection, especially while her immune system was compromised by chemotherapy. She’s paid attention to how she touches things and is always vigilant about washing her hands.

“I don’t get out except to doctor’s appointments and walks in the woods and walks around my neighborhood,” she explains.

Hospital: “Added Level of Anxiety”

But entering the hospital during the pandemic brought “an added level of anxiety” to her cancer treatment, Messeri says.

“My son would drop me off at the hospital and no one was allowed in. They’d have to take your temperature before you’d go up to the floor,” she says of safety policies put in place by the hospital.

Once there, the anxiety continued. Messeri felt concerned about “anybody that came into my room — the cleaning people or the people that were taking my blood in the middle of the night.”

“I’m Going To Watch Happy Movies”

With no visitors allowed, Messeri soon became familiar with her hospital environment and its routines. She allowed herself to relax a bit and made up her mind to make the best of her time there.

“Okay, this is my time. I’m kind of by myself,” she says of her thought process while in the hospital. “I’m going to watch happy movies and just take this time to rest.”

During this quiet period of isolation, Messeri found herself feeling inspired to look for “ways to give back.”

A Neighborhood Prayer Tree

One way was to create what she calls “a prayer tree” for her neighbors.

“I sent ribbons and a little note to everyone in our neighborhood,” she says. Then she told everyone to “put a prayer, a photo, a positive affirmation — any kind of light that you’d like to give to the community.”

Now that Messeri is home, the prayer tree reminds her of the support she received from her neighborhood community during her treatment. “We have a tree designated as you exit, with the ribbons, for everyone in the neighborhood to see as they’re driving out,” she says.

 

 

 

 

 

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