Healing in the Public Eye: Coun. Elizabeth Peloza’s unplanned hospitalization and a gift of warmth from Victoria’s Quilts Canada

Coun. Peloza shares more about her health journey during chemo, including a recent health scare and a gift from local quilters.

As she undergoes chemotherapy treatment following breast cancer surgery, London City Councillor and Budget Chair Elizabeth Peloza is documenting her health journey on CTV News.

Approaching the midway point of her chemotherapy treatments, Peloza shares her feelings after an infection landed her in hospital on the Easter weekend, and later met with local volunteers providing compassionate gifts from the London Branch of Victoria’s Quilts Canada (VQC).

“It’s about offering comfort and warmth, especially because anyone who’s gone through it knows chemo is cold,” explained Ellen James, a quilter who also helps acquire donated fabric and batting. “The rooms are cold, so it’s nice to have something to wrap-up in and be comfortable. Also to know that someone cares enough to do this for them.”

The volunteer group relies entirely on donations to create and deliver up to 32 quilts each month to people with cancer.

Jan Devereux emphasizes that volunteers don’t need to be quilters.

Like her, some offer their time delivering completed quilts, assisting the board, and promoting their mission of providing comfort to people with cancer.

“It’s so grassroots,” Devereux added. “It’s such a good cause that I felt I needed to get involved.”

James added, “A week after my nephew passed away from cancer, a friend of mine and I decided that we were going to become involved.”

The pair presented a quilt to Peloza ahead of her fourth chemotherapy treatment.

“There’s people across Canada who are doing this,” Peloza explained about the organization. “Maybe they’ve been touched by cancer, maybe someone in their family has been touched by cancer, maybe they just want to help.”

Peloza reads the patch stitched onto every completed quilt, “Victoria’s Quilts Canada. We hope this quilt brings you comfort and support in this difficult time. You are not alone.”

The message comes a week after Peloza acknowledged she feels lonely and isolated because chemotherapy has temporarily compromised her immune system.

“When you’re sitting there getting chemo, you know that the bad days are about to start,” she said. “So to have something reminding you that you’re in someone’s thoughts, knowing you are not alone is going to be a huge help.”

A dedicated group of quilters at all skill levels meet monthly at Wesley Knox United Church in London and take the quilts home to finish.

There is no cost for people with cancer to receive a quilt.

Peloza is moved by their dedication, “It’s a gift of love from someone who doesn’t even know you.”

Meanwhile, Peloza is sharing a medical scare that recently landed her in hospital overnight.

“My Easter was not as intended. I had to spend Saturday evening and Sunday morning in the emergency department,” she recalled.

• IN PHOTOS: Elizabeth Peloza’s hospital stay and gifts received

Chemotherapy has made some of her skin and tissues prone to bleed.

“From blowing my nose, it sometimes bleeds. I managed to get an infection,” she explained.

Days after leaving the hospital, she was still worried about the consequences to her chemotherapy schedule.

Having to spend time around potentially contagious illnesses inside the hospital’s ED was her initial concern, but the treatment of the sinus infection led to another, “[I’m] apprehensive. I got IV antibiotics at the hospital and got some more antibiotics to take orally. But this week is chemo on Friday, so I’m waiting to see if my blood work passes.”

Every two weeks a blood test and examination must show her oncologist that she’s healthy enough to receive her next chemotherapy treatment.

Otherwise, her chemotherapy will be paused.

“This Friday would be round four of eight, so this is almost my halfway point. I have months ahead. Any delay is just going to push back other plans or hopes of this wrapping up.”

In a text on Friday, Peloza was relieved that she was able to receive her fourth chemotherapy treatment, but acknowledged her temperature is being closely monitored.

The London Branch of Victoria’s Quilts Canada can be contacted at [e-mail]

Requesting a quilt for someone who has cancer in Canada can be done through the national organization’s website.

People can share their thoughts and questions via email at [e-mail]

Selected emails to CTV News will become part of an upcoming segment of Coun. Elizabeth Peloza: Healing in the Public Eye.