The Maria Lorick Heart of Hope Cancer Foundation

The Maria Lorick Heart of Hope Cancer Foundation is the vision of John and the late Maria Lorick of Shreveport, Louisiana as one of the ways they could ensure their cancer journey would not be wasted and others would gain hope as a result of it.

Founded in 2008, Heart of Hope seeks to heighten the awareness of cancer, such as ovarian cancer, which has no early detection, as well as the need for more federal funding for research.  

Maria, who was diagnosed with stage 3C ovarian cancer in 2007 and passed away in February 2010, also believed no one should walk the cancer journey alone. To that end, another of the foundation’s primary goals is to reach out to newly diagnosed cancer patients and pair them up with a cancer survivor or caregiver trained as a “journey counselor.” Caregivers and immediate family members are also included in this program.

“As Maria and our family walked this journey, we realized there was a vacuum in the patient-family support system,” said John. “Those who had walked the journey before us better understood where we were and how our hearts felt. It quickly became apparent that a wealth of comfort and hope was available through the cancer warriors who preceded us.”

Training Process

For those cancer survivors who join Heart of Hope as journey counselors, the foundation provides training to sharpen their basic counseling skills, arm them with resource information and provide a strong spiritual support.

“We feel it’s imperative to employ good bedside manners and maintain the highest of etiquette when working with cancer patients,” John explained. “We’ve also been honored to partner with the Pastoral Care staff of Cancer Treatment Centers of America to better educate our journey counselors. Completing the Our Journey of Hope lay ministry training is a mandate for all our certified counselors.”

As of October 2010, 154 people have completed the journey counselor training program. A special journey counselor certification training is also provided for those who wish to be on Heart of Hope’s rapid response team of counselors.

Referrals and Promotion

From the beginning, Heart of Hope began developing great relationships with physicians in their area. As they shared their concern about patient support, they found that “most doctors had a heart that reached far beyond medical treatment.” John related that they embraced the foundation and the journey counselor concept and soon were both sending patients to the foundation as well as calling the foundation themselves requesting assistance with patients and families.

Heart of Hope employs several methods to promote awareness of their existence, activity and services. They’re active in the local cancer community, keep up a website – www.heartofhopecancerfoundation.org – use billboards, radio, news media, magazine articles and professionally printed materials. They’ve reached out to local churches with great success and also use word of mouth to increase exposure. They’ve been the subject of many television and radio interviews, and were even featured in a special segment on the International Inspirational Television Network.

Meeting Needs

While the needs of cancer patients vary and are multiple, John believes he’d put prayer and spiritual support at the top of the list. Then there’s family support and resource information.

“Most cancer patients are more concerned about the welfare of their family members than they are of themselves,” he explained.

Another way the foundation meets needs is in helping churches start faith-based cancer support groups. As of October 2010, Heart of Hope has assisted in founding seven faith-based cancer support groups in their area.

“Churches are becoming more aware of the need to support this ever-growing population of the church and community as a whole. It’s a very defined outreach ministry for the church community,” said John.

Funding and Staffing

Heart of Hope is funded by fundraisers which have been strongly supported by the medical community and the faith community and by private donations as well. “We’re now seeking grant funds to expand our services,” John said. “We’re on a projected $150,000 budget for the next fiscal year.”

Heart of Hope is staffed by volunteers, many of whom are cancer survivors themselves. John projected they’ll hire full-time staff in the near future, “as God continues to bless the ministry.” He continued, “Our home church, Summer Grove Baptist in Shreveport, is a strong supporter of our foundation. Our new office will soon be located on the church campus.”

Results

John doesn't know how many people they’ve already helped due to the fact that their work is passed along to church staffs and support groups, and they help out-of-state patients through their website. But he feels they do a good job of implementing their patient-connecting program. “We walk it together hand-in-hand and heart-to-heart,” he said. “It’s my desire to take the journey counselor program global, expanding via the Internet, faith community and medical community. Hurting hearts deserve hope.”

Continuing, he said, “Sometimes turning pain into a purpose comes with a price tag. All in all, God has been faithful. My wife’s journey wasn’t wasted; God didn’t fail us; He chose us for this cause.”