County Family Creates and Donates 100 Chemo Comfy Bags For Cancer Patients At Luminis Doctors Community Hospital

Story By Raoul Dennis //PHOTOGRAPHY BY LLOYD JEREMIAH
More than a decade after losing Tyrena Spry to breast cancer, her family has transformed their grief into a living legacy of comfort and compassion at Luminis Health Doctors Community Medical Center.

The Spry family donated more than 100 “chemo comfy bags” on February 5 to support patients undergoing cancer treatment at the hospital where Tyrena received care before her passing in 2012 [LISTEN: “Spry Family Donation Honors The Life of Tyrena Spry,” above]. The gesture, timed to honor what would have been her 50th birthday milestone, quickly grew beyond its original scope — becoming a community-wide expression of love.

Tyrena Spry was many things to many people: mother, sister, daughter, aunt and friend. Affectionately known as “Ma,” “Tye-Tye,” “Weenie,” “May May,” “Rennie,” and “Auntie Rena,” she was described by her family as the glue that held everyone together . Even during her battle with breast cancer, her warmth and creativity never dimmed.

“The hospital staff was with our family during one of the most difficult chapters of our lives,” said her sister, Shavon Spry . “This donation is our way of saying thank you and carrying on Tyrena’s belief that even in the hardest moments, kindness and hope matter.”

Each chemo comfort bag is thoughtfully assembled with items designed to ease long treatment days — journals, books, blankets, scarves, hats, snacks and small encouragements that remind patients they are not alone . What began as a goal of 50 bags soon doubled, fueled by friends, neighbors and a local Girl Scout troop who joined the effort .

The involvement of the Girl Scouts added another layer of meaning. For the troop members, assembling the bags became a lesson in service, empathy and honoring women whose strength paved the way for others. For the Spry family, it was a powerful reminder that Tyrena’s story continues to inspire the next generation.

Hospital leaders and care teams gathered for a ceremony recognizing the family’s generosity and reflecting on Tyrena’s courageous journey . Deneen Richmond, president of Luminis Health Doctors Community Medical Center, said the hospital was deeply honored by the tribute, noting that acts of compassion like this strengthen the healing environment for patients and families alike .

The donation also shines a light on a sobering reality: breast cancer continues to disproportionately affect Black women. While Black women are slightly less likely than white women to be diagnosed with breast cancer, they are about 40 percent more likely to die from the disease. Factors contributing to this disparity include later-stage diagnoses, limited access to high-quality care, systemic inequities, and higher rates of aggressive tumor types.

There has been meaningful progress over the past decade. Advances in targeted therapies, expanded genetic testing, community-based screening programs and increased awareness campaigns have improved survival rates nationwide. Five-year survival rates for breast cancer overall now exceed 90 percent when detected early. Efforts focused on early detection and equitable treatment access in communities of color are helping narrow mortality gaps — but significant work remains.

For the Spry family, the mission is both personal and purposeful. By supporting patients at the very hospital that once cared for Tyrena, they are helping ensure others feel seen and supported during one of life’s most vulnerable seasons.

“Tyrena taught us that true strength isn’t about never falling,” family representatives shared . “It’s about rising every time and lifting others along the way.”

Through every blanket folded and journal tucked into a bag, her spirit continues to rise — offering courage, comfort and a quiet reminder that love endures long after loss.