Prostate cancer survivor donates 'warm-hearted' gift to IU Health Arnett

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John Laws holds his certificate of achievement after completing his prescribed round of radiation treatment. Laws recently donated a blanket warmer for other patients at IU Health Arnett to use.
John Laws holds his certificate of achievement after completing his prescribed round of radiation treatment. Laws recently donated a blanket warmer for other patients at IU Health Arnett to use.

LAFAYETTE, Ind. — After Dr. John Laws completed his last radiation treatment after a five-month battle against prostate cancer, he started thinking of ways to help those still going through treatment. A literal warm-hearted idea came to mind.

Laws, EdD and vice chancellor of student affairs at Ivy Tech Community College Lafayette, went through months of prostate cancer treatment throughout 2020. On his last day of treatment, Laws wore a graduation cap and was presented a certificate of achievement, marking his completion of his prescribed course of radiation therapy.

“Everyone at Arnett made this situation as painless as possible,” Laws said in a release. “From my oncologist, Dr. Matthew Orton, to the clinicians administering my treatment — everyone was so kind and helpful. I knew I had to give back in some way.”

The way Laws and his wife, Konnie Laws, have given back includes donating a blanket warmer to IU Health Arnett.

“I am always cold, so warmth is close to my heart,” Laws said. “When I received treatment, I often had to disrobe and would be left feeling chilly after the therapy session.”

Staff at IU Health Arnett show the blanket warmer donated by John Laws.
Staff at IU Health Arnett show the blanket warmer donated by John Laws.

Coldness is a common symptom felt by patients going through radiation treatment, according to IU Health. Radiation can lower the body's white blood cell count. This can result in reduced oxygen circulation, which can lead to a feeling of coldness.

The donated machine by the Laws will be able to warm up to a dozen blankets at once, helping to keep patients warm.

“We hope this donation helps makes the job of caregivers a little easier, but we also hope it helps patients who may be shivering after treatment,” Konnie Laws said in the release. “We thought this was a win-win.”

According to IU Health, Laws has stated that this donation feels like he passed a "final exam."

"Not only had he finished his treatment, but now he had also helped other patients find comfort during unsettling times," the release said. "That moment of generosity made him feel like he could officially turn his tassel."

This article originally appeared on Lafayette Journal & Courier: IU Health Arnett gets gift from prostate cancer survivor