Foundation History 

A few years after Vic and Suzanne moved to Parker, CO, they decided that they wanted to do something to give back to their local community and they began volunteering at Parker Adventist Hospital as patient visitors. Suzanne has been a physical therapist for over 25 years, so the caregiver in her helped make the hospital a perfect fit for them. Vic and Suzanne participated in patient visits at the hospital for 10+ years and were able to include Morgan, their Golden Retriever, for many of those years. During those patient visits, they developed a deep understanding of how grateful patients could be to have the company of complete strangers, and especially a friendly dog, even if only for a few minutes. Vic also knew from his father’s experience of being in and out of the hospital while fighting prostate cancer, that patients benefited from visitors. Sadly, Vic’s father lost his battle with prostate cancer at the young age of 62. While Vic’s experience with his father and volunteering at the hospital deepened his compassion for people in need of healing, it wasn’t until his mother was diagnosed with Stage III breast cancer that he witnessed, even further, the physical and emotional strain that cancer patients go through while receiving chemotherapy.

Vic’s mom received her chemotherapy treatment at a hospital where they had a community room with several other patients, young and old, also receiving chemotherapy. Vic and his oldest brother were fortunate to be able to accompany their mom to each chemotherapy treatment. Each patient was made as comfortable as possible by the nurses and other hospital staff, and each patient was in a different stage of treatment. Some patients were rail thin, curled up in the fetal position, while others were upbeat and chatty. What stood out to Vic more than anything else was that the majority of the patients were alone, and chemo, apparently, makes people cold. Seeing this, and wanting to provide whatever comfort he could, Vic made it a point to include the patients who were by themselves and looked like they wanted to talk, in the conversations he, his mom, and his brother were having. Based on the reaction of the other patients, the interaction was welcomed and appreciated. While the enthusiasm in which the other patients joined the conversations made Vic feel good, he wondered what else could be done to make a bigger difference.

After sharing what Vic witnessed during his mom’s chemotherapy treatments with Suzanne, they thought about how providing a special Christ Warrior blanket to cancer patients could make a lasting impact on each patient during their cancer treatment journey.  Vic and Suzanne believe that the Christ Warrior blankets do more than just provide warmth, they believe that the Christ Warrior blankets are a tangible reminder to each person to let them know that others care about them and that they are not going through their treatment alone. Each blanket is prayed over before being given to someone, and there is a tag on the blanket that states, “Love and prayers surround you. This blanket has been prayed over with you in mind; for comfort, healing, strength, and wholeness.” The Christ Warrior blankets are a reminder that God is with them, as He always is, and that He will walk with them through their struggle.

Vic and Suzanne understand that not everyone who receives a blanket is a believer, but their prayer is that the blankets will be a blessing and comfort to those in need, while also glorifying God, knowing that God opens our hearts and invites us into a real relationship with Jesus.

John 13:35 “By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.”