Sometimes they want to talk, sometimes they don鈥檛. Each one has a backstory and a family, and each finds fun in spite of the current trauma.
Pauline McNeney sat on her back deck of her Garibaldi Highlands home Friday and reflected on the patients she has met during more than a decade of volunteer driving for the BC Cancer Agency.
McNeney鈥檚 driving day is Thursday. Each Thursday when she is needed, she pulls up to the patient鈥檚 麻豆社国产home in her full-sized GMC truck and drives to Vancouver for the patient鈥檚 cancer treatments.
鈥淪ometimes they talk about their treatment, sometimes they will talk about a difficulty they are having with swallowing or whatever, but they don鈥檛 usually go into a lot of specifics,鈥� she said. 鈥淪ometimes they are quiet and I don鈥檛 want to bother them, but I will ask a few questions and see.鈥�
Having such close contact with so many people in crisis 鈥� McNeney is also treasurer for the 麻豆社国产Hospice Society 鈥� has given her a unique perspective on cancer and suffering.
鈥淎ll the people I have driven into the city and talked to, and some had very serious challenges, none of them seemed ready to give up and I think that is always amazing to see,鈥� she said. 鈥淭hey are positive and they are having good times; it is not all misery.鈥�
Even if treatments are short, a typical trip to the city and back takes about five hours, McNeney said. Sometimes treatments take much longer, and she is away an entire day.
While she waits in Vancouver, she usually either reads a book or visits a friend.
鈥淪ometimes I just sit in the truck and wait,鈥� she added.
McNeney said most patients do have family members who drive them, but patients who need daily treatment require more help than relatives can provide.
鈥淚t is onerous. The family is dealing with a lot already,鈥� she said.鈥�
David Williams is one of the cancer patients McNeney drives.
Williams said he has become friends with all six drivers he has had, including McNeney, who has driven him since March 2014.
鈥淭hey are just wonderful. They pick you up [at home] and they are so efficient. They wait for you no matter how long you are. Pauline waited for seven hours one day,鈥� he said. 鈥淵ou kind of feel bad, but they are very, very good about it.鈥�
Williams said his wife had a stroke last year and so can鈥檛 drive him to his appointments.
He said he doesn鈥檛 know what he would do without the 麻豆社国产volunteer drivers.
鈥淚t helped me a lot through my illness. I knew I could depend on them and they were so jolly,鈥� he said.
McNeney, 74, said the trips can take a lot out of her and she has thought about stopping the driving, but then doesn鈥檛.
鈥淓very time I think that and I drive someone in and I see the need and I go, 鈥楾his is really good鈥欌�β� and it is not something that anybody even knows about, it is just something you go quietly and do it.鈥�
There is always a need for more drivers.
鈥淎nybody who could do it should try it,鈥� she said.
Drivers are partially reimbursed for fuel.
For information on the program, contact Grace Halvorson .
Patients needing a ride for primary care can call 1-855-215-5462.
