Photo by Emma Delk Wheeling Subaru and the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society donated 80 blankets to WVU Medicine Wheeling Hospital oncology patients on Wednesday. From left, Radiation Oncology Supervisor Michele Braley, LLS Patient and Communication Outreach Senior Manager Angela Austin, Director of Medical Oncology Dr. Tina Bhatnagar, Wheeling Subaru Sales Manager Tony Bonitatibus, Wheeling Subaru Salesperson Clint Eisenhauer and Oncology Patient Navigator Melissa Mealy.

WHEELING — Subaru Cares and the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society have donated a source of warmth to WVU Medicine Wheeling Hospital oncology patients as they undergo the challenging process of cancer diagnosis and treatment.

Wheeling Subaru collaborated with the LLS to coordinate the annual donation of 80 hand-stitched blankets to the oncology department at Wheeling Hospital on Wednesday.

WVU Medicine Wheeling Hospital Director of Medical Oncology Dr. Tina Bhatnagar said the blankets would be distributed to patients dealing with a cancer diagnosis, particularly blood cancer. She said the blankets come in handy during infusion treatments as they are “functional and also comforting.”

“This annual donation of blankets for our patients is always well-received, and we go through them very quickly,” Bhatnagar said. “The feedback from this has been overwhelmingly positive, and I think that’s because the blankets represent exactly what patients want when they’re dealing with a cancer diagnosis — warmth and comfort.”

Bhatnagar noted the blankets are handed out to newly diagnosed blood cancer patients as that is “the most taxing part of their entire cancer journey.”

“After their diagnosis, that’s usually the point in time that we alert our wonderful social workers to distribute the blankets,” Bhatnagar said. “A cancer diagnosis turns people’s worlds upside down, and there are so many emotions that occur once we deliver that kind of scary news. I think it’s immensely important to provide some type of gesture to help acknowledge the patients and their emotional state as they’re going through that process.”

Wheeling Subaru Sales Manager Tony Bonitatibus said Wheeling Subaru has collaborated with LLS for more than a decade to provide the blanket donations. He said they wanted to “support the local community and patients” at the hospital.

“We pay for these blankets that are essentially made specially for this hospital,” Bonitatibus said. “We just want to be supportive of our local community in any way we can, and I know there are a lot of patients here that appreciate that support.”