Recipients

Recipient Highlights

Gerri Morris

“The basket is simply a token,” said Gerri Morris, who received a basket after treatment for pancreatic cancer. “Jeana’s ministry is to give you hope, to give you comfort, to help you get through something that you don’t know how you are going to get through.”

Along with presenting the basket, Watenpool talks with patients about their treatments, how they are doing and offers to pray with them.

“There were three other people in the room that day and I’m sure that they heard her praying over me and I bet that they were touched in some way as well,” Morris said.

Morris’ cancer is currently in remission, but she still carries the inspirational card that Watenpool gave her at the hospital room visit in the fall of 2015.

Watenpool, who is a knitter, enlists the help of other knitters to make “prayer shawls.” The knitters pray for the recipient as they make the small blankets.

“We always like to remind our patients … that cancer does not define them,” Watenpool said. “And we always try to give them hope that they will beat this disease.”

view the full article from 90.5 WESA

Listen to interview from basket recipient Gerri Morris

Sean Nolan

Sean Nolan, is a Mrs. Claus Club recipient of a comfort basket. Sean was diagnosed with Burkitts Lymphoma. Sean attends North Hills High school and his basket was delivered by friend/classmate David Reith December 2017.

Letters From Mrs. Claus Recipients

Jeana, How do I even begin to thank you for your visit! The basket from Mrs. Claus Club was more than generous. The prayer shawl is beautiful! Your kindness and prayers meant so much to me. I feel as if I have known you for a longtime. My Sincere Thanks,

LynneRecipient

Mrs. Claus Club: I received a beautiful gift basket a few weeks ago and it was overwhelming with such beautiful items. Donna Gallagher submitted my name which was so kind of her. The basket items meant so much to me and made my day. Your kindness was so greatly appreciated. God Bless!

JudyRecipient

I am so very grateful for not only the basket and prayer shawl but for the opportunity to meet Jeana. She has touched my heart and soul from the moment I met her. You made me feel that she knew what I was going through and how I was really feeling.

PeggyRecipient

What a lovely basket, blanket and pillow. It means a lot to me and will help through this journey. God sent me an angel. God Bless You and thank you very much for your visit.

JanetRecipient

Thanks so very much for making my day! Sally submitted my name. The books, the prayer shawl, the caps and everything so wonderful! You are truly wonderful doing this for so many of us living with cancer. God Bless,

LindaRecipient

How do I begin to say thank you for the wonderful box of love and thoughtfulness that I recently received from your organization. To say I was overwhelmed would be an understatement … Every item in the box was placed there knowing I had a need for these items. I was especially taken back by the beautiful craftsmanship of my pillow and prayer shawl. I feel so blessed that your organization chose me to send a care package to .. Once again thank you from the bottom of my heart. Big Hug for each of you!

Recipient

It’s people like you who make a diagnosis of cancer bearable and I thank you from the bottom of my heart for the beautiful gifts, gift card, homemade items, everything was unbelievably wonderful. I’m still pretty sick ..i get my final chemo tomorrow, then I will get another scan and they will determine if the can surgically remove the tumor. I appreciate your prayers so much. Many many heartfelt thanks for some truly wonderful people! With gratitude & love.

KathyRecipient

I was so inspired and overwhelmed by the love and concern that was shown to me by the visit and basket from your volunteers. Jeana stayed for a beautiful visit and the bountiful basket of thoughtful items blew me away. I was moved to tears throughout the visit. thank you so much for your kindness, time and love.

LindaRecipient

What a beautiful ministry/mission this is! I am overwhelmed by the generosity and kindness you have shown! thank you so much ~ you made my week! I am so grateful! Sincerely,

MichelleRecipient

Chris got his basket today. Today is treatment #3. Here’s what his wife posted on the CaringBridge.

Overcomer!!

Journal entry by Angie & Chris Smith — 45 minutes ago

Chris is an overcomer. He has overcome many things since November 30: surgeries, infections, low WBC count, and cancer. We know that with God fighting, the cancer is not an issue. With Him, we can overcome what gets thrown at us.

We are sitting here with chemo session #3. As always, he’s working while getting treatment. (Corey, if you are reading this, I think a raise should be coming Chris’ way.) I do want to thank all he works with for allowing him to work from home during this time. Also for the prayers and other support you have given us. We did receive a package from Ms Claus Club from Pittsburgh. I had to laugh seeing that return address and seeing it was for Chris. Not every day you get a package from Ms Claus. Here it is an organization that does care packages for those fighting cancer and going through chemo. When we opened the card, it gave us the name of who referred Chris’ name. Thank you Mary. That was an awesome thing to open before we had to leave for his treatment.

God has been so good at supplying the support for us when I (in all honesty), didn’t know would be there. I am still learning the “receiving” process since I am more of a giver. Again to everyone, THANK YOU!!

“16 Rejoice always, 17 pray without ceasing, 18 give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.”

1 Thessalonians 5:16-18

Thank you.

Have a great day!

Mary C Chippich

Mary

Mrs. Claus Club,

In honor of Julie & Brian Makuta, who forwarded my name to your organization, I am sending a donation in the amount of $100 so that you can send another package of goodies to another person in need. What a wonderful surprise to receive the box filled to the brim with all kinds of wonderful things! I really appreciate it. God Bless, Veronica Schubert

Veronica Schubert

Thank you so much for the comfort basket! I’m on treatment #4 for my lymphoma and all is going well. The items are not only thoughtful, but very useful too – i never thought about a sleep cap for instance until I lost my hair! it is very handy. I decided to wear scarves and hats during this journey – they are comfy and can be very stylish. I’m embracing the ‘bald” me — i want to give an extra-special thanks to Margaret, who knitted the black hat; Marie, who made the pillow case; and Bev for the gorgeous prayer shawl – i wear it often especially during chemo weeks. My chemo side effects are minimal, so I know it’s working! Thank you so much for your kindness and prayers. Love, Lisa Toboz

Lisa Toboz

Dear Mrs. Claus Club:

Thank you so much for your very generous Pirate gifts and care package. Mike had a bad day at the hospital and came home to your wonderful package. It cheered him up! Thank you so much for caring for someone you don’t even know. May God Bless You.

With Love, Mike & Amanda Kaufman

Michael & Amanda Kaufman

Dear Mrs. Claus Club:

Thank you for your wonderful caring basket and bag, and for having Jeana enter my life!

Every product was awesome, the prayer shawl fabulous (fits like a glove)! Jeana time with us and her prayer were so moving!~ I feel very blessed and loved!

With Joy,

Carol

Carol

I want to thank you from the bottom of my heart for the beautiful Christmas card and thoughtful gift card for door dash. You helped make my Christmas extremely special because my children were all home visiting and we were able to order dinner for all of us on the cold snowy day. I appreciate your organization and I’m amazed at the generosity and commitment that all of you ladies have shown me. I pray that you are always provided the resources that make you so special. You genuinely help so many people like me, who can only think of their health at the most devastating time of their life. You bring that love and hope that they are missing. Thank you very much!!!!

I also wanted to share my miracle with you be Sue I know that you are constantly praying for me and others. I had 2 immunotherapy sessions and had to stop because of a 9 day hospital stay that almost cost me my life right before Thanksgiving. I recovered from this and was sent home with hopes that only 2 immunotherapy treatments kicked in and jump started my white blood cells enough to fight away the cancerous cells. The Dr’s told me not to get my hopes up because only 2 treatments usually don’t show good results. With the prayers and help from the Lord, the recent scans showed that 9 out of 11 tumors that I have dissipated and the remaining 2 tumors in my right lung shrunk more than half of its size. WOW!!!!! God is so good and praise him for this miracle. Thank you for you support and prayers and continue to pray that I can beat the odds and be healed from this terrible stage 4 renal cell carcinoma (kidney cancer) cancer. Only God can fight a. Monster like this one and he is doing just that. Please keep in touch and if you ever need my assistance for anything please reach out to me.

Dawn

Dear Mrs Claus Club,

I wanted to thank you so much for your gift that arrived on Wednesday. It was certainly unexpected and very much appreciated. Everything included in the box was not only useful, but also well thought out as I go through this journey.

In the middle of October, I was diagnosed with Stage 4 lung cancer, which had also spread to my optic nerve. I had a raspy voice that had developed over the summer that would not go away. After a series of visits to PCP and Walk In Clinics, as well as Speech Therapists, I went to a pulmonologist who discovered my cancer. I have always been healthy and athletic. Any the time of my diagnosis I was typically walking 3 miles a day, doing Yoga and playing golf. Two months later, after 13 rounds of radiation to my head and optic nerve, I was in an ICU on 9 L of Oxygen.

I have been fortunate to be placed in a clinical study at Moffitt Cancer Center in Tampa. They have put me on a drug that was only FDA approved in May. It is a drug that targets the DNA of the cancer, and they are very optimistic that this drug will have a successful outcome. Their optimism helps to keep me optimistic. They say it is perfect for my kind of cancer. I do have to say that after that low point in ICU, I am doing better. I am now with help able to transfer from bed to wheelchair and my oxygen usage is down to 3 L.

If there is a positive to any of this, it’s that I have learned how many true friends I really have and I am so appreciative in the way they all have responded. We live in FL most of they year, but we also have a place in Pittsburgh where we typically spend several of the summer months. Our churches in Pittsburgh and here in Florida have been so supportive and both congregations are praying for me. Additionally several neighbors have also added me to the prayer lists in their churches and synagogues. We have had neighbors calling, and bringing food, and family members have put their lives on hold to assist in my care. All of this has been great. However, this gift from a group of women that I don’t even know is exceptional.

Please tell everyone there how much this was appreciated, and ask them all to pray for my recovery.

Thanks again for all you do.

Trish

The box I received from Mrs. Claus Ministry was such a surprise!!! The items are all usable for me. Thanks for the lovely prayer shawl (Rose Alioto). The Lord is in charge of my recovery!! The $50 Trader Joe’s is a great gift. The cookbook has a wealth of information along with great recipes! Sincerely God Bless!!

Meretta

Dear Mrs. Claus Club — thank you for the wonderful job you do providing inspirational baskets for cancer patients. I know how my dear friend Pat Previdi appreciated receiving a comfort basket from Diane Paller. Both Pat and her husband, John suffered with cancer.

Please accept my donation for your ministry.

Love, Bobbie

Bobbie

I LOVED the comfort basket!!! I couldn’t think to add or take away any of the items. I felt like a kid on Christmas morning as I opened each item. The knitted basket was very nice, as was all the beautiful handmade pieces. Thank you for putting a smile on my face and the love I felt in my heart!

Linda

Linda

Dear Mrs. Claus Ministry Ladies:

I’m not even sure how to properly thank you for your support and thoughtfulness. The comfort basket was unbelievable ~ overflowing with so many items that will help me be comforted on this cancer journey. Too many items to thank individually but for sure I felt your love in all of it. Thanks, too, for your contribution to purchasing my wig. So grateful!!

I’m looking forward to learning more about Mrs. Claus Club and becoming involved in such a wonderful cause. I know Beth has talked about going to the dinner for many years. I never thought I would be one to benefit from your cause. God has bestowed many blessings on me as I’ve traveled this cancer journey … I count Mrs. Claus Club as one for sure! I know He is by my side and have felt His presence and peace. I will pray for your organization.

Blessings & Love, Debbie

Debbie

Dear Mrs. Claus Ministry:

What a surprise to receive the box of gifts from Mrs. Claus Club of North Hills. I couldn’t believe the variety and thoughtfulness of all the items. I’ve had 2 chemo treatments and have 2 more to go. I seem to be accepting them very well.

Blessings & Love to you

Marge

Marge

I am so grateful that Sue Karn offered up my name and for the Mrs. Claus Club for the generous package I received, with so many items. What a blessing for all that your ministry does. This has been a tough journey, but I have been so blessed with the love of family and friends. I have many prayer warriors out there lifting me up each and every day. Thank you for this beautiful gift of giving.

Blessings,

Lois

P.S. Thank you for the books.

Lois

Thank you to everyone involved in the Mrs. Claus Club! What a surprise it was to get the box full of everything needed to get through this difficult time of breast cancer. There were necessary things, things to comfort and soothe, and things to lift up the spirit. You cared for not just the physical but also the emotional side of this disease. Your thoughtfulness is really appreciated. The shawl is beautiful (thank you Pat Way), with even the prettiest of buttons showing the care with which it was made. A bright cheery pillowcase, port pillow, a bracelet that makes me think about how many others are struggling with so many types of cancer — and all the many other items … thank you !

God Bless,

Elaine

Elaine

Dear Mrs. Claus Club,

I just don’t know where to begin to thank you. What an amazing box of goods from these cards to the pillow case. Every item is so smart and so necessary. I look forward to trying recipes from the cookbook. Look forward to reading the literature and eating food items and using personal items. You have done your research because everything is healthy and so smart. The Panera card is an extra special bonus ~ we will get lunch when working at the school. In fact with that generous card, we will get many lunches! I really appreciate your hand written note and the shawl, you are a talented women (JEAN DUNCAN — this was your prayer shawl)! I am going to buy a simple tan dress someday to wear that shawl out and about. It is beautiful! As I run out of space, I want to let you know that the port pillow is an amazing idea … so smart and useful.

Thank you for everything.

So much love, Marla

Marla

Dear Mrs Claus Club,

This was such a beautiful surprise. I loved everything you put in the box and it was such a blessing. This was one of my bad days and it lifted my spirit. I am such a Christmas person so that this is the Mrs Claus Club it makes it even that much more special. I always tell my family that I love, love and I’ve been watching Christmas in July on Hallmark. What a beautiful ministry.

Thank you ,
Mary Ann

Mary Ann

Dear Mrs. Claus Club & Jeana,

Thank you from the bottom of my heart for the comfort basket and the blessing you gave me. As I was struggling to care for my family after having surgery, you showed up and cared for me.

Please never underestimate a good deed, kind word or prayer — as these works of mercy are what we are called to do.

May God Bless you All.

With Love,

Christine

Christine

Dear Mrs. Claus Club,

Thank you for the bountiful basket of goodies! I am enjoying all the reading materials and appreciate the thank you cards and activities. And the prayer shawl is awesome, can’t believe someone made that while praying for me. Thank you for all the thoughtful items. I especially appreciate the prayers.

Sincerely,

Joanne

Joanne

Everything you could possibly need. Thank you for being there for us.

Please accept my donation to replenish the gifts.

Megan

Megan

Dear Jeana & friends of Mrs. Claus,

Thank you so much for your beautiful generous basket and bag of wonderful gifts. My husband has been struggling since July with cancer and constant treatments, most of which haven’t been terribly effective. But, each step of the way we have felt God’s love through all those in our path, caregivers, family, friends and caring people. we pray for healing for Tom but pray not to miss one moment of the day.

Love & Blessings, Tom & Marie

Tom & Marie

Open Letter from Phil’s Daughter

Words cannot express the gratitude we have for the Mrs. Claus Club! I thought you would appreciate seeing my dad with his basket! This was in Monroeville at his 3rd Chemo appointment. I try and meet my parents there to keep them company. Really I figure if I am there talking with Mom then Dad will rest during the treatment! It works well. It was great because my mom forgot his blanket and pillow so I had them open the basket right there! He used the beautiful lap blanket and the pillow! Then my Mom and I played cards while Dad slept. My parents where truly thankful for all the great things in the basket and overwhelmed by the Panera gift card too!

You are a special person for providing not only the items that are very useful but more importantly the prayers and words of encouragement.

Thank you so much!

God Bless you!

Renee Komoroski