The Karmanos Cancer Institute at McLaren Port Huron opened in July. The center offers distinguished cancer care and convenience to patients in St. Clair and Sanilac counties and the surrounding area.
Port Huron has become the destination for patients and families seeking services at a facility ranked as one of the best cancer care resources in the country, as well as highly trained specialists seeking jobs with a state-of-the-facility. Port Huron's
Karmanos Cancer Institute at
McLaren Port Huron Hospital, in memory of Barbara Ann Karmanos, recently opened its doors in St. Clair County and treated its first patient a little more than a month ago.
Port Huron City Manager James Freed said the number of doctors, nurses and medical technicians now working in Port Huron has increased quality care and attracted more of the same to the area.
“It’s already happening,” he says. “There are clusters of specialists who have also moved in and around the area.”
Overwhelming community support
Lynn Griffor, director of the McLaren Port Huron Hospital Foundation, says she has never quite seen the amount of support coming from a community for the best of causes. Instead of calling potential donors to show their support, she is being approached by these supporters.
“People are coming to us with their ideas,” she says. “We had to hire someone to handle all the fundraising efforts.”
She mentioned Lakeview Hills Golf Resort’s donation of $16,000 from their recent fundraiser and the donation of $10,000 towards the Survivorship Fund from Emily and Steve Goudy from their Take a Shot For Breast Cancer campaign. The Harsens Island Brewery and many more advocates have fundraisers coming up soon, as well, she says.
One heartfelt gift of $500,000 came from Jim and Cindy Rourke. Jim passed away since then in his battle against cancer. Griffor says before construction even began on the institute, the Rourkes came forward with their generous gift.
“Jim believed so strongly that people deserve to have this, that they shouldn’t have to travel so far when they are going through this battle already,” she says.
Griffor also has seen firsthand the attraction new, highly skilled positions at the hospital have created, like physicists, radiation oncologists and dosimetrists.
“Since the cancer center has opened, some highly educational positions have opened up and I truly believe this is drawing people to the area,” she says.
As an example, she cites physicist Ben Catt,who lived in Canton and moved to the Port Huron area when he was hired by Karmanos.
Individual treatment
While Karmanos Cancer Institute patient care has just begun in Port Huron, Nancy Jeannette of Fair Haven described the many months in 2015 when she and her family were at the
Detroit Karmanos Cancer Institute.
“My late husband Thomas Jeannette experienced the best in cancer care," she says of the difficult time.
Jeannette says the entire family appreciated the “comprehensive Karmanos care philosophy."
"The teams who treated Tom consisted of a variety of health care specialists who met together to coordinate every aspect of Tom's care," she says. “They also met with Tom and our family to review his condition, describe their holistic treatments and to listen to our feedback as to his condition."
Jeannette says they had state of the art care by the best in the field. The direct care providers were very knowledgeable regarding cancer, but also showed compassion to her husband and the entire family.
“The knowledgeable nurses and aides treated Tom and all of us with tender, loving care that was second to none," she says.
Medical advances to discover
Samir Alsawah, MD, a board certified medical oncologist, says that there are certain drugs and treatments that are only available through a National Cancer Institute such as Karmanos. He was recently a guest on McLaren Port Huron's Today's Health Show and took advantage of the time to explain the comprehensive care the medical staff gives, in the form of an Individual Treatment Plan. The ITP is a multidisciplinary approach focusing on the patient, his or her family, and their unique circumstances and includes the physical, mental and family dynamics.
Alsawah is also a respected clinical investigator and praised the advanced medical oncology services. He states that Karmanos also offers patients enrollment in some of its clinical trials and explains that clinical trials help cancer care research expand and cancer treatments to improve. He has directed many industry-sponsored clinical trials to evaluate the efficacy and safety of a wide range of unique anti-cancer agents.
On a more personal note, Dr. Alsawah speaks fluent English, French and Arabic. Patients and families who experience certain language barriers find his linguistic skills of great value in understanding the disease and the recommended medical treatment.
Director of Cancer Services Pat Keigher says the Karmanos Cancer Center is one of the 45 National Cancer Institutes in the U.S. which are competitively selected as National Cancer Care Institutes.
"The Karmanos Cancer Institute at McLaren Port Huron offers distinguished cancer care and convenience to patients, especially in
St. Clair,
Sanilac, and nearby counties," says Ginger VanNuck, Director of Marketing and Public Relations of McLaren Port Huron. "Now patients access the premiere offerings of a Karmanos Cancer Institute, ranked as one of the best cancer facilities in the country -- close to home."
Enjoy the view
"Enjoy the view" is good counsel anywhere and under any circumstances, but always at Karmanos. The view from some of the windows at the institute offer beautiful scenes, including water views, which are especially calming for those under stress. An individual newly diagnosed with cancer, a supportive family member or a patient in cancer treatment can visit the inviting park during their stays and visits. Family and friends might stroll the adjacent boardwalk or push their loved one's wheelchair along the way. Karmanos also provides a variety of creature comforts, including customer service providers, patient and visitor guides and free valet service. The center is located at 1221 Pine Grove Avenue, adjacent to Pine Grove Park. Another advantage is its location: these services are located in an area not only free from heavy traffic and noisy conditions, but characterized by the quiet, natural beauty of an adjacent park flanked by the
St. Clair River and a nearby boardwalk, in the shadow of the spectacular
Blue Water Bridge.
Continued expansion
Construction continues at McLaren Hospital on a new four-story, 165,000 square-foot patient tower, according to hospital officials. Most of the $162 million expansion project expenses will be funded by bonds that are sold to investors, along with proceeds raised by the McLaren Port Huron Foundation fundraising events, such as the Annual Golf Classic and Festival of Trees. The foundation will also be initiating a significant capital campaign effort in the coming months. Karmanos created a dozen or so new jobs within the hospital and 52 percent of contractors and tradesmen were local, VanNuck explains.The Patient Tower is a $132 million investment, with about 40 percent of its contractors local.The Karmanos Cancer Institute alone was a $30 million investment.
"Combined, we will use 65 companies and 700 workmen to design, build and finish the facilities," she says.
For more information about the Karmanos Cancer Institute or campus construction, visit
www.mclaren.org/phrising.
Writer Angela Rochon suggests reading "Falling," by Elisha Cooper for emotional insight. "It is a memoir by Elisha Cooper that records a father's thoughts regarding his pre-school daughter's cancer diagnosis and treatment," says Rochon.