(Lisa’s note: Our readers are accustomed to our newsletters’ inspirational openings and this story from Cynthia “Cindy” Hoehn is extraordinarily inspirational. Enjoy!)
Adelynn spending time with a patient undergoing chemotherapy treatment.
My trade is working as a Property and Casualty Insurance Agent. My calling is the volunteer work that my dog, Adelynn and I do to serve cancer patients and their families. I discovered that having just a career isn’t enough for me. I believe that everyone is meant to have a calling and that’s the reason why we are here.
I found my calling as a result of tragedies in my life. It was born when my sister was terminally ill with cancer. During part of her battle, she was a patient at MD Anderson Cancer Center. The center allowed family to bring vaccinated and groomed pets to visit their relative patient. I took my Tibetan Terrier, Adelynn, to visit my sister. As we were walking down the hall to my sister’s room, there were other patients there. When they saw my Adelynn, all of a sudden their faces grew huge smiles. Prior to seeing Adelynn, I saw no smiles on these patients’ faces. I could only see their pain. I immediately decided that I had to get involved with patients, in addition to my sister. Adelynn and I became a certified and registered pet therapy team, serving under a national pet therapy organization. In addition to cancer patients, we’ve spent time with our country’s great veterans at a cancer treatment center and at dementia residences. We’ve also spent time with people being rehabilitated from serious injuries.
Now, our time is focused on cancer patients, as Adelynn and I greatly relate to them and their families, which is important. In addition to my sister, both my grandmothers and one of my dogs were lost to cancer, and I am a Melanoma survivor. My calling could not be seeking me more loudly than it does. These patients and their families open up to us because we relate to them. In addition to spending time with cancer patients while they receive their chemotherapy treatments, Adelynn and I also have been making cards out of her photos, and for a few years, have been sending them monthly to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital for the children patients. We also give these cards to patients we serve in person. Covid has put a moratorium on our in-person visits with cancer patients and on St. Jude volunteers being able to distribute our cards. In spite of that, I am planning other projects that may fit with Covid restrictions. A life of service outside of my trade has been branded on Adelynn’s and my heart. We know why we are here.
Cynthia Hoehn is an independent Property & Casualty Personal Lines insurance agent contractor who’s been in the business for 23 years. A self-described “insurance geek” based in Clermont, Florida, she has focused her career on educating and helping customers make the very best decisions they can to protect their assets and liability. You can reach her at [email protected]
LMA Newsletter of 7-26-21
