Sophomores Naomi Herman and Myles Antelis started Carrying Hope 4 Chemo this April, which is a project aimed at bringing joy to cancer patients going through chemotherapy.
To achieve this goal, Naomi and Myles are putting together tote bags filled with the essentials needed when going through chemo. After Myles machine sews and embroiders the Carrying Hope logo onto the totes, the two put a blanket, socks, Aquaphor, a journal, ginger, hand lotion, and a NeeDoh into each one, along with a handwritten note.
Naomi and Myles are then going to deliver the totes to patients in Northwestern’s Division of Gynecologic Oncology, the same unit in which Kerri Herman, Naomi's mother, received over six months of chemo and surgery to remove tumors from her lung in 2004. She also had additional surgeries in 2019 and 2020 for breast cancer.
In fact, Naomi was first inspired to start this project by her mother’s experience with cancer.
“Cancer has been a part of our lives,” Mrs. Herman said. “Naomi asked years ago about bringing something to chemo patients. In her heart [she has] such a wonderful thing. From my stories, she wanted to be able to make a difference.”
Unfortunately, when Naomi first wanted to start this project during COVID, the hospitals wouldn’t accept any outside donations. However, Mrs. Herman is still in touch with the nurses who took care of her, and she recently learned that Northwestern is accepting donations again.
“I mentioned it to Naomi, just mentioned it to her. And within five days, even less, she came up with this entire concept—what to bring, what to do, who to bring this to, everything,” Mrs. Herman said.
Naomi’s plan came together so quickly because of her motivation behind it.
“Cancer impacts so many people's lives,” Naomi said. “It has been really rough for me throughout my childhood because it's hard to see someone you love so much go through that. I think bringing hope to people is something that's important, because people can be so down on themselves and think the worst.”
Once Naomi had established her idea, she sought creative sewing help from her classmate Myles.
“Immediately, when I heard about this opportunity, I knew that this was something for me,” Myles said. “It was something that I love doing, and I was combining it with bringing hope to other people's days.”
Myles’s job became sewing and embroidering the tote bags.
With an established plan for the tote bags, Naomi jumped into action by creating a GoFundMe to raise money for the materials they needed. To get donations, she sent out an email to her friends and family and made a “Carrying Hope” Instagram account. In the end, Naomi and Myles raised over $7,500 through a total of 72 donations.
“Everyone's looking forward to the project, and we have gotten a lot of support, obviously, through donations,” Naomi said. “The nurses are also really excited for it because this is something new that will hopefully bring joy to the patients.”
With the creation of the first tote bags already underway, Naomi and Myles are looking forward to the impact they will make on patients.
“I hope these bags will give them at least some hope in their day and will inspire them to keep on pushing, even though it must be so hard,” Naomi said. “Even the letters, just to know that other people support them and that they aren't going through it alone.”
Mrs. Herman is also amazed at the work Naomi is doing. “She's taken it beyond anything I could imagine,” Mrs. Herman said. “To watch her love of wanting to help and make a difference and bring joy and comfort to these families is just an inspiration.”
Commenting on his experience with this project thus far, Myles said, “This project has really changed my perspective because it shows that you can help others through anything. You can even take your passion and make it something to help others.”
Reflecting on her work, Naomi said, “This project has really shown me that the littlest things can really make a difference, and that it is so manageable to help others. Happiness and positivity go a long way because I think when people are negative and are not inspired to do things, then change doesn't happen.”
