Gifts that provide support, encouragement, and hope when they are needed the most
It’s our shared humanity that allows us to show up for others in these times of need. Even the smallest gesture can make a difference, because it says…
I see you. I’m here. You’re not alone. Keep going.
We’re proud to offer a collection of inspirational gifts that symbolize encouragement, and — of course — hope.
Because it’s in those especially dark times that we need the light. Not only for those who are impacted themselves, but also those who care and support them.
Click here to check out our online store, and share the hope and love you hold in your heart.
Click the shop button below to discover our gifts for hope and strength – and share the hope and love you hold in your heart.
When Karen Marcus, MD, is in a Zoom meeting, she often uses a background that features a galaxy. It is an image that one longtime colleague says perfectly suits Marcus, who retired as Chief of the Division of Pediatric Radiation Oncology at Dana-Farber/Boston Children’s Cancer and Blood Disorders Center.
“I picture the many meetings I have been in with Karen and that background, with her galaxy symbolizing the breadth and depth of contribution Karen has to her field,” says Lisa Diller, MD, vice chair of Pediatric Oncology at Dana-Farber/Boston Children’s. “She has a deep understanding of where radiation fits into the overall treatment plan, and how it can best benefit the short- and long-term survivorship of pediatric patients. I will miss Karen and her galaxy.”
So will many others. Since arriving as a resident in 1986 at what was then the Joint Center for Radiation Therapy at Harvard Medical School, and then joining the Dana-Farber/Boston Children’s faculty three years later, Marcus has been at the forefront of numerous innovations in the field while treating patients ranging from infants through young adults.
“Dr. Marcus has built a world-class pediatric radiation oncology program,” says Daphne Haas-Kogan, MD, chair of the Department of Radiation Oncology at Dana-Farber. “Under her leadership, and along with her team of dedicated nursing, therapy, administrative, and child-life support staff, our pediatric oncology patients receive top-notch, compassionate, and seamless care.”
Haas-Kogan is among those who consider Marcus a mentor. Marcus, in turn, feels lucky to have spent “the most wonderful career I ever could have imagined” at a place where radiation oncologists are considered an equal part of a patient’s treatment team from the point of diagnosis.
In addition to her clinical acumen, Marcus has been a scholar authoring more than 150 publications including original research, reviews, and book chapters. She has presented at many national and international meetings and conferences, and recently completed a three-year term as president of the Pediatric Radiation Oncology Society. In 2018, she was awarded Fellow of the American College of Radiology, the highest honor that the ACR can bestow on a member.
“Dr. Marcus brings a focused thoughtfulness to interactions with trainees, colleagues, parents, and patients, and all feel lightened after meeting with her,” says Leslie Lehmann, MD, clinical director of the Pediatric Stem Cell Treatment Center.
In a letter he wrote to Marcus, Dana-Farber President Emeritus David G. Nathan, MD, lauded his longtime colleague’s most significant attributes.
“The pillars of cancer therapy, surgery, radiation, and chemotherapy are the usual constructs of a cancer program,” Nathan wrote. “But that simple description leaves out the most important support structure, the devotion of caretakers to their patients. You have embodied that devotion as well as great skill in all the years I have known you.”
Have you ever heard of a HOPE HUDDLE? Access the link below to see how this important idea reminds us of the value in caring
We’re on a mission to bring hope to the times in our lives when it can feel most out of reach — during serious illness or hardship.
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