Acts of kindness helps Valley cancer patients

FRESNO, Calif. ( KSEE/KGPE ) – A group of high school students is making a big difference in simple ways for people battling cancer.

Justin Martin was alone the night he went to the hospital and found out he had cancer. But he soon learned he was not alone.

He found the best doctors, nurses and latest treatments at the Community Cancer Institute. Students from a local church group also became important in his fight.

Justin remembers the moment he got the news.

“It was probably the hardest time of my life. you know. hearing the news and hearing the word ‘cancer’ is what got me.”

It was 4:30 a.m. Justin got the news that he had testicular cancer.

As he began treatments he began to find the strength to fight.

”I had a reaction to the chemo, and a lot of people were like, ‘Are you going to go back? Are you scared?’ And I’m like, ‘No, I’m going to go back. I’m going to keep going,’” he said.

One of the things Justin received was a blanket made by local high school students. They had made a blanket for a cancer patient in their church, saw what a difference it made, and decided to make more blankets for more patients.

Gabriella Schofield spearheaded the project.

“After we made her blanket and gave it to her, she told us she was really touched because when someone goes through chemo, they’re really cold and she just kind of felt loved. And so we decided we wanted to share that love with more people,” she said.

Justin got a blanket that featured several of his favorite superheroes. It was important during treatment, and he still has it to this day.

“It does help patients tremendously, more than people probably know. It’s not just a blanket. It’s more of like a sign, something to kind of keep you going. something to keep pushing. Don’t give up, you know, it gives you the courage to want to just keep fighting because you know that these kids are trying to make a difference for us patients,” Justin said. “I was afraid that I would let the kids down. I hope someday I am able to tell them that they saved me pretty much, you know. so I hope I can tell them that someday.”

The students spent their spring break making the blankets and hand-delivered 206 of them to the Community Cancer Institute.

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