Conversations with Amanda Hanna

Today we’d like to introduce you to Amanda Hanna.

Hi Amanda, so excited to have you on the platform. So before we get into questions about your work life, how can you bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today?
In December 2014, Laura, my wife, my mom, friend, daughter, sister, grandma, and preschool teacher were diagnosed with Stage 2 Triple Negative Breast Cancer. She went through chemotherapy but was unable to do radiation treatments due to previous cancer. In 2016, her breast cancer spread. Our organization started as a preschool kindness project in October of 2016 when my mother, Laura, and her friend and preschool teaching partner Deb decided to gather items for cancer care packages. Laura then took the care packages that her preschoolers had made to the Sarah Cannon Center in Independence, where she was receiving her treatment. Although these seemed like small gestures to you and me, they mean so much to these newly diagnosed patients. We collect gum, mints, lifesavers (these help with the taste of the medicine), tissues (chemo causes a runny nose and lots of tears), chapstick (great for dry mouth and lips), crackers/cookies (for when nothing tastes good), lotion (helps with so much hand washing), hand sanitizer ( to keep germs away), lightweight stocking caps or socks, water bottles ( bottled water sometimes tastes better), Jesus Calling Devotional Book ( this book has a special meaning to Laura). My sister and I shared the letter about the care packages on Facebook, and Deb started bringing carloads of donations to her home. Deb’s spare bedroom was filled with items for the cancer care bags. From the start of these cancer care bags, we have never had to use our funds to make the bags; everything has been donated.

Laura, unfortunately, lost the battle with cancer and passed away on May 2, 2017, but one of the last things she wanted was for us to keep distributing the cancer care packages. In October 2017, we became a 501 C3 nonprofit organization, and Studio 3V Dance Center hosted our first Zumbathon Fundraising event. We distribute 60 cancer care packages per month to six local cancer centers. We deliver to Sarah Cannon Cancer Center in Independence, Lee’s Summit and Belton, St. Luke’s East Cancer Center, KU Cancer Center in Lee’s Summit, and Cancer Action in Independence. We also mail packages to those who reach out to our organization. We also create memories for families. We have sent families to a Night at the Royals Stadium, the Mavericks game, game night baskets, movies, spa baskets, and more. For some, it has been a memory as much as a financial need like daycare or preschool payments. We love to help the people walking through cancer not have to think about cancer, even if it is for one day or an evening. To date, we have passed out over 3500 cancer care packages and given away over $55,000 in the almost 6 years we have been an organization.

Would it have been a smooth road, and if not, what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
Sometimes when we run low on our supplies, Deb and I will talk to each other about things we need to purchase. It always happens that we get a donation of supplies or a check in the mail. We usually say thank you, believing God drives our organization and ministry. We feel so blessed that we get to do this in our community. The ways that we are supported, people rallies, and the donations that people give keep us going and allow us to keep this organization going. Deb and I run this organization, and we each have supply rooms in our homes that we function out of. We are volunteer-based, and all donations and supplies go directly to our organization. One day we would love a location where people could assemble bags, cancer support groups, and hair-cutting parties. We have some big goals.

Let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
I, Amanda, have a career and degree in nursing; I am a pediatric critical care nurse at Children’s Mercy Hospital in the Cardiac ICU. Deb is a retired preschool teacher from Christ Early Learning Center. I know I am most proud of my strength and growth since my mother died. It has been the hardest thing I have ever experienced, losing someone I loved so much, and that just loved me so well. I am incredibly thankful for our organization and for forgetting to pass out these bags each month. It is one of my favorite days each month. It is my mother’s love being given to others. What sets us apart from others is the understanding of cancer and how it affects every aspect of life. My mom was a giver who always taught me to give; what we receive is much more than a tangible object. When someone gets our bag, I know they feel the love it was made with and the heart and thoughtfulness.

Do you have any memories from childhood that you can share with us?
My favorite childhood memories are those with my mom and being together at all the family holidays—so many changes when a loved one dies. So my favorite memories are when we are all together.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.lauraslittlebitsofcomfort.com
• Instagram: @lauraslittlebitsofcomfort
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/lauraslittlebitsofcomfort