(WBBM NEWSRADIO) --The loss of her best friend drove a local woman to do something for those dealing with difficult long-term illnesses, so they can feel good about themselves.
Seeing a childhood friend battle a deadly form of cancer wasn’t easy for Jackelyn Kastanis.
“I saw her stripped of her entire identity. She lost dignity," Kastanis said. "It was really hard to look in the mirror and love yourself when she saw what she looked like and what she felt like.”
After a day of pampering in the hospital, and seeing what that meant for her friend, Kastanis started the non-profit Simply From the Heart to uplift other patients dealing with long-term hospital stays and terminal care.
“We go into the hospitals, we knock on the door and we ask patients if they are ready for a boost. We cater to anything that they would want from their nails to their hair and makeup," she explained.
"It feels like a day out with your best friend.”
Kastanis and members of the organization’s “Glam Squad” have been making stops at hospitals across the Chicago area, and now other states as well for quite some time. They’re celebrating their 10th anniversary this year.
“It’s more than a visit. It’s more than a glam box and it’s more than any product," she said. "We’re creating a lasting memory.”
Whether it’s on-site makeovers or pop-up pampering, Kastanis said Simply From the Heart’s mission remains the same: encourage well-being, raise self-esteem, improve quality of life for patients and their families and make a real difference.
“It has been proven that looking forward to it alone brings more smiles and less pain. It’s really something special. We hope that they can look back on their experience and remember that this was a nice, enjoyable, comforting time for them," she added.
“When you shine light on what it means to gift patients with an unforgettable day, I think the effects are immeasurable.”
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