René Guionnaud, decked out in his silly hat for the day, serves lunch to David Miller, a Terry Ewton Memorial Oncology Ministry volunteer and a cancer patient at Tennessee Oncology.Patients of Tennessee Oncology at Memorial Hospital prefer to come in for their treatments on Mondays.
It's not because the treatment process is particularly better or easier on that day. It's because Mondays are sandwich days. When the clock strikes 11 a.m., the faces of the patients light up, greetings are called out and hugs are given.
It's because at 11 a.m., the Terry Ewton Memorial Oncology Ministry volunteers arrive.
"Every Monday, like clockwork, they come in and pass out sandwiches, chips and water. [The patients] are actually quite dependent on it now," registered nurse Becky Randolph said before laughing, "And then there's René. What is he today? A bat?"
She's referring to ministry volunteer René Guionnaud, who dons a new and ridiculous hat with each visit. On this particular visit his hat sported two large bat wings, one sticking out on each side of his head. Guionnaud doesn't have to work hard to get laughs out of the patients - they know him and his jokes well. According to him, he's just along for the ride, thanks to Terry Ewton.
The ministry was founded by Ewton in 2009 out of Bethel Temple Assembly of God, and though Ewton lost his own battle with melanoma last year at the age of 52, the mission he left behind is stronger than ever.
Ewton got the idea for the ministry after going through his own treatment experience, the first year of which was a very dark period in his life, according to his mother Judy. After he recovered emotionally and "got back to himself," Ewton wanted to give back.
So he got help from friends like Guionnaud and his church, BTAG, and began taking lunch to the patients at Tennessee Oncology each Monday. Not only did he give patients something to eat while they were stationary and hooked up to IVs, Ewton gave the patients something to talk about, something to laugh about and someone to pray with.
"Terry was such a people person; he could relate to the ones who weren't handling it very well,"said his aunt, Faye Ewton.
He was known for bringing an exceptionally good attitude into the treatment room of Tennessee Oncology, though he continued to fight his own battle with cancer.
"A good attitude doesn't come close," friend and ministry volunteer James Corry said in regards to Ewton. "He didn't just bring food, he brought smiles and happiness. He could brighten up a place. It was unbelievable. It amazed me how he would go around and talk to everybody."
Corry along with Guionnaud and fellow volunteer David Miller continue to adopt Ewton's cheerfulness as they enter the treatment room every Monday. Guionnaud is also a cancer survivor, and Miller is currently receiving his own treatments for kidney cancer at Tennessee Oncology.
"You cannot ask for a better group, if you have cancer, than this bunch," said Miller, referring not only to the ministry volunteers but to Tennessee Oncology's registered nurses.
"It's a blessing to the patients and it's a blessing to us," said Dorothy Williamson, RN and team leader.
BTAG plans to continue the ministry, said senior pastor Terry Evans.
"We just knew it was helping so many of the patients," he said. "I get thank you cards once a month from people touched by the ministry. This is where, according to scripture, you 'give a cup of cold water in my name.' It's about serving people who are in a hurting place with no expectations on our part, but just to show the love of Christ."