Cleaning for a Reason

I would never call cancer "a gift" in my life. But without doubt many good things have happened because of my illness. I mention the most important silver linings in my poem, The View From Remission. 

 

Here is one gift to make life easier for any woman currently undergoing chemotherapy:

 

Free housecleaning. Any woman can apply for free housecleaning one time per month for 4 months while she is in treatment. All she has to do is sign up for Cleaning for a Reason and have her doctor fax a note confirming the treatment.

 

The only glitch is the limited number of housecleaning angels right now. 

 

Cleaning for a Reason serves the entire United States of America but doesn't yet have the angel-power to provide service in every zip code area. And Cleaning for a Reason can accept only 50 applicants each Monday through Thursday. The application 

process opens at 12 noon (Central Time) Monday through Thursday, and it usually closes in 6 minutes.

 

Unless you love doing housework, keep Cleaning for a Reason in mind when you or someone you love is undergoing chemotherapy.

 

As an aside, this is just one more example of individuals whose generosity and loving kindness receives little attention. My perception of humanity has been shaped by my view from the other side of the stethoscope.

 

Healthy Survivors seek out and accept help that makes it easier to get good care and/or live as fully as possible.  

Comments

[Joni Rodgers]

Yes! Thanks for this, Wendy. My sister hired a house cleaner for me when I was in chemo -- meaningful, practical, life-changing help. I've included Cleaning for a Reason in the charities among whom I divvy up my tithe. I know for a fact my donation is making a huge difference in someone's life.

[Carolyn Scott Kortge]

Thanks for agreeing that cancer is not a "gift!" My position is that, yes, there are definitely good things that have come to me through my encounter with cancer, but they are "earned benefits," not gifts. They demand courage and vulnerability. So I appreciate your refusal to dismiss those positive outcomes as "gifts." Keep up the good writing!

[Beverly Broman]

Beautiful poem!!!

[Lori Hope]

Wonderful poem, Wendy! Thank you for linking to it again, and thanks for the reminder about Cleaning for a Reason - have been meaning to blog about it for a while!
Lori
lorihope.com/blog

[Lisa E.]

When the publicity on this group first came out, I got several emails from friends encouraging me to use this service. My husband took a family medical leave and did most of the household chores during my five months of chemo. I hope that people who are on their own with limited resources and really need housecleaning help have access to this service, not people taking advantage of "free" stuff trying to "win" a spot at noon. Perhaps the awareness of Cleaning for a Reason inspires friends to offer help to chemo patient directly by actually cleaning, helping with shopping, etc., or by paying for a service (not necessarily this one) to help.