When Jean and Harold Luppens moved to Seven Lakes from Cleveland in 1997, Jean knew she wanted to get involved in the community and make a difference. She had no idea just how big a difference she would make.

In 2000, Jean conceived of a program, which would be staffed entirely by volunteers, to provide emotional support and advocacy for people with cancer. It would be called Care-Net, signifying the network of support it offered.

With five volunteers and Jean as coordinator, Care-Net began operating on April 1, 2001. The program now has about 40 volunteers. In less than five years, it has served nearly 650 patients, most in Moore, Montgomery and Richmond counties, but when the need arises, in any of the areas that FirstHealth Moore Regional Hospital serves. Just about everybody who knows anything about Care-Net agrees that Jean Luppens deserves the lion’s share of credit for its success.

“She completely developed the program, fostered it and made it what it is,” says Laurie Edwards, R.N., the Outpatient Oncology nurse case coordinator at FirstHealth Moore Regional Hospital. “She is a wonderful lady, and she gives of herself beautifully.”

Edwards meets with all new chemotherapy and radiation therapy patients to find out if they need any outside services such as home care, financial assistance, medical equipment or Meals on Wheels. She frequently refers patients to Care-Net.

What is Care-Net?
Care-Net is sort of a buddy system, pairing volunteers with patients who need someone they can talk to as a friend. Often, their greatest need is simply for understanding and encouragement.

Volunteers also serve as patient advocates. They provide a communication link between patients and their caregivers, making sure that patients understand their treatment and get answers to their questions. If a patient has specific needs that aren’t being met, the volunteer can help access resources in the community.

Care-Net has grown and is no longer limited to serving cancer patients. It is also open to patients with congestive heart failure, emphysema, and other chronic conditions or special needs.

Creating and building the Care-Net program was a natural extension of what Jean Luppens was doing before she moved to Seven Lakes. With training in psychology and administration, she was director of the Chronic Illness Center, a community-based agency and part of the Cleveland Metropolitan Health System. The goal of the Chronic Illness Center was to enable chronically ill and elderly people to remain in their own homes for as long as possible.

“Out of that experience, I had become convinced that the day was coming when we were going to have to rely more on volunteers,” Jean says. “There was no way, given the rapidly expanding elderly population, that we would be able to do what needed to be done with professional staff alone.”

Soon after settling in Seven Lakes, Jean and Harold established a charitable gift annuity with the Foundation of FirstHealth and got involved in Foundation fund-raising events. Jean began exploring opportunities to volunteer with the Foundation and was asked to join the Cancer CARE Fund committee.
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