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Barb McDonald (left) and Moninna Running (right) are volunteers who host “Coffee for Caregivers,” a new initiative that provides support for caregivers of patients in The Ottawa Hospital’s Transplant and Cellular Therapy unit.
It’s 2 p.m. on a Thursday, just outside the Transplant and Cellular Therapy unit at the General Campus of The Ottawa Hospital (TOH).
Two volunteers roll a portable coffee cart into a colourfully painted room. The space is filled with large comfortable chairs, a television mounted to the wall, and soft, warm light.
The volunteers — Moninna Running and Barb McDonald — straighten the chairs, fire up the coffee maker and quietly get ready to welcome any family members or loved ones of patients who might need a break from a demanding day of support. They are setting up for “Coffee for Caregivers,” a new volunteer-led initiative created to give caregivers in the stem cell transplant unit a chance to breathe, recharge and relax.
The essential role of caregivers
It can’t be overstated: Caregivers of patients in The Ottawa Hospital’s stem cell transplant unit carry…a lot.
Caregivers provide constant support around the clock and know that taking a break can feel like an impossible task. Sometimes traveling far from home with no family or support nearby, caregivers sleep lightly, eat when they remember, and rarely leave their loved one’s side.
Even when staff encourage them to step away for just a few minutes, most don’t.
“For good reason, caregivers take their role very seriously,” says Tania Baird, Manager of the Transplant and Cellular Therapy unit at The Ottawa Hospital. “But this also means they take it quite literally, to the point where they’re not taking a break or not taking great care of themselves.”
Coffee for Caregivers provides just that: a chance to step just outside the unit for a short break, but still close enough to feel comfortable doing so. It comes with no agenda, no pressure and no expectations — just a hot drink, a snack, and a calm, welcoming space for those who show up to support someone else through an intense, life-altering treatment.
It’s the first volunteer-led initiative exclusively for stem cell patient caregivers. The idea for the program grew from a simple realization that many caregivers lack the type of support programs available to patients.
“Sometimes, people just need an outlet,” says Lucie Zabchuk, Manager of Volunteer Resources at The Ottawa Hospital. “Somewhere they can sit and talk — or not talk — while they’re here.”
Caregivers are an extension of our patients, and there was a desire to do more for them.
“We’re really great at taking care of our patients, but if it’s a long road for them, it’s also a long road for their caregivers,” Tania says. “Knowing the limitations on visitors coming into the unit, we worked with TOH’s Volunteer Resources team to help address that gap in support by inviting caregivers to take a much-deserved break outside of the unit.”
Coffee, care and the power of volunteers
None of this would be possible without the support of our volunteers, who help bring the program to life.
Moninna and Barb don’t wear scrubs. They don’t carry clipboards. They sit down, pour coffee, and listen, because they know that even small, engaged moments can have huge impacts.
Did we mention they’re really great at this?
“These patients and caregivers are going through a very difficult time, and it’s quite a load on the caregivers’ shoulders,” says Barb. “This is an opportunity to have a coffee and a chat, where they can talk about their loved one or talk about whatever they want to take their mind off of things.”
For Barb, this is deeply personal — and an immense privilege.
“I’ve had a family member recently receive cancer care here at TOH, so this is a unique opportunity to give back,” she says. “When they want to talk about what is going on, we mostly just sit and listen to them. To see how brave and resilient they are can be quite touching, and I think they like having the opportunity to tell their stories.”
Moninna, who’s been volunteering with TOH for four years, echoes that sentiment and says the experience is both meaningful and educational.
“The caregivers are always very thankful, but I’m thankful too, because every time we see them, I learn something new about them and myself,” she says. “It makes me appreciate more of what I have, and I also get to learn more about what is happening in the hospital.”
Moninna and Barb genuinely care about the caregivers they meet.
And for the caregivers, who are so used to putting themselves second, that can mean everything.
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