A Journey Toward Healing
A Journey Toward Healing: Roy and Barbara's Road to the INTEGRIS Health Cancer Institute
About 261 miles lie between INTEGRIS Health Cancer Institute (IHCI) and Amarillo, Texas.
But when Roy Frisbie was diagnosed with lung cancer, he and his wife Barbara knew traveling to Oklahoma City to receive treatment from INTEGRIS Health would be worth it. Their journey began in 2018, when doctors in Amarillo discovered cancer in Roy’s lungs. They insisted his only treatment option was chemotherapy. After witnessing the effects of chemotherapy on his mother, Roy decided to explore other treatments.
A few phone calls and 261 miles later, Roy and Barbara found themselves at IHCI. There, expert physicians could administer radiation treatments for Roy’s lung cancer and monitor his lingering, but controlled, prostate cancer. Since Roy’s treatment required two weeks of radiation twice a day, they needed to stay close to IHCI. The American Cancer Society covered the cost of their lodging during that trip, enabling them to stay in nearby cottages. The couple returned to Amarillo two weeks later with a healthy prognosis for Roy’s lung cancer. After that, their trips to IHCI shifted to routine appointments every few months. But during one of his check-ups, Dr. Robert Gaston discovered Roy’s previously-managed prostate cancer had worsened. Roy needed another round of radiation, this time twice a day for five weeks.
Roy and Barbara were concerned about the cost of a hotel for the length of time he would need to be at IHCI. Fortunately, because of donors like you, Roy and Barbara were provided 10 days in a local hotel with lodging funds available through the INTEGRIS Health Foundation.
“We’re not rich by any means. But the lodging fund took care of where we stayed the first week of treatment,” Barbara recounts. “We only had to take care of gas and food, and I cannot express how much of a relief that is with everything else going on.”
Barbara and Roy celebrated their 62nd wedding anniversary in June.
The lodging fund was first created by YOU&I donors in 2016.
The caregivers at IHCI also worked with the couple to find extended-stay lodging for the remainder of their stay in Oklahoma City, helping them find a hotel within their budget and ensuring they felt comfortable.
This program is just wonderful,” Barbara shares. “You don’t feel pressure or stress because the lodging is there, and they’ve worked it all out for you
Even though treatment could be difficult, they felt confident knowing that lodging had been taken care of.
As of this May – seven years after the first time he walked through the doors at INTEGRIS Health Cancer Institute – Roy finds himself nearly free of prostate cancer. And because of the care he received, Roy and Barbara were able to celebrate the birth of their newest great grandchild. The Frisbies’ journey has been long – 261 miles, many times over – but the road to healing has been paved with kindness and support.
On behalf of the Frisbies and all the other families you’ve helped through your generosity, thank you.