Montreal hospital brings holiday shopping to its patients

Roger Desrochers hopes the new year will bring him a successful stem cell transplant, but as Christmas approaches he's focusing on giving back to the family members who'vesupported him since he was diagnosed with leukemia.

Sitting in his quiet hospital room at the McGill University Health Centre,Desrochers smiles at the thought of surprising his wife, brother, sister, and nieces with gifts.

"I will give them a part of my heart a little bit," he said.

Montreal hospital brings holiday shopping to patients

7 years ago

Duration 0:39

MUHC Cedars Cancer Centre is helping patients in oncology and palliative care give back to loved ones at Christmas.

He will soon be receiving astem cell transplant from his brother, but right now Desrochers is focused on givingback.

For him, holiday shopping is as easy as a stroll down the hall on the 10th floorto the family room where volunteers have set up a makeshift boutique.

Desrochersperuses jewelry, teddy bears, clothing and treats all donated gifts and picks out a few favourites for his family.

"I know it's not a very big gift. But the most important is what you think about with this gift," he said.

The initiative is called the "Gift of Giving" and it's run by the Cedars Cancer Centre for patients in the hospital's palliative, oncology, hematology and transplant units.

Interim director of Cedars Cancer Support Helen Rossiter said over the years, the program has helped patients and families create important memories, during difficult times.

"Patients are very, very overwhelmed and grateful and happy," she said.

Once the gifts are picked out, volunteers wait in an assembly line, ready to wrap and hand-deliver each item to the patient's room.

"It makes them feel they're participating in the holidays," Rossiter said.

After months of treatments and back-and-forth between the hospital and home, Desrochers said he's thankful for the opportunity to take a break from the medical routine, and focus on the holidays.

"It will help me to be at the same place as everybody for the Christmas period."