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On Doctor's Orders

Tribune photo by LAURA FRAZIER

Dr. Kathryn Kepes, founder and CEO of The Center for Radiation Oncology, carries a pallet of poinsettias to driver Sherrie Nasworthy's van for delivery to cancer patients and their families. Note: To protect against computer viruses, e-mail programs may prevent sending or receiving certain types of file attachments. Check your e-mail security settings to determine how attachments are handled.

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By LAURA FRAZIER

lfrazier@tampatrib.com

Published: December 17, 2008

BRANDON - Drivers for a local radiation oncology group deliver vanloads of patients to and from treatment offices across Hillsborough County - patients who otherwise might not make it to their appointments.

They offer the service in Brandon, Plant City, Sun City Center, Tampa and Zephyrhills five days a week - for free.

And each December, the drivers do double duty by delivering poinsettias to patients undergoing cancer treatment, and to the families of those who recently succumbed to the disease.

Physician Kathryn Kepes, founder and chief executive officer of The Center For Radiation Oncology, started the outreach program she calls "Poinsettias for the People" in 2006. She wanted to bring a little cheer to critically ill or socially isolated patients and the families of her patients who died.

She said her staff and patient drivers immediately embraced the program. Kepes met with her staff last week at her administrative offices on Parsons Avenue to launch this year's first delivery of more than 100 poinsettias.

Driver Victor Cruz has delivered hundreds of poinsettias during the past three years. He said he never thought such a small token could convey so much joy.

"There are smiles and tears of joy," Cruz said.

Kepes said she knew the gifts would bring some happiness but was surprised by the impact they had.

"A lot of people are amazed that their doctor did something just for them, but it's truly a team effort," she said.

She said the center's director of nursing, Maria Appel, "performs miracles" by coordinating the delivery schedules, and the drivers go above and beyond the call of duty to see that people get their holiday greetings.

Driver Sherrie Nasworthy used some of her days off from her full-time job as a patient driver to deliver poinsettias last year. She has worked 16 hours a day at times during the holidays to transport people and plants.

She said the recipients' big reactions to the small gifts make the effort worthwhile and fulfilling.

"They're so happy, you can't imagine," Nasworthy said.

Kepes said some of the most touching moments come when drivers scramble to make "rush deliveries" to patients who are in serious decline and not expected to live much longer.

"It's kind of a bittersweet mad rush to get them a poinsettia for their last Christmas," she said.

The staff is driven to keep up the deliveries through Christmas Eve.

"Inevitably, we'll have a new patient on Christmas Eve and find out they are alone," Kepes said. "As soon as they leave, we'll say, 'We need to get them a poinsettia.' It's a tough thing to be alone and have cancer at Christmas."

Reporter Laura Frazier can be reached at (813) 657-4523.

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