A Heartfelt Donation to Missouri Baptist Cancer and Infusion Center

Ken and Jan’s Personal Journey Inspires Generosity

Jan and Ken Labit visit MoBap’s Cancer and Infusion Center.

Ken and Jan Labit’s journey began with an unexpected turn when Ken was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer in 2023.

Facing the prospect of frequent treatments, Ken began therapy at MoBap’s Cancer and Infusion Center. While receiving treatment, he noticed the reclining chairs used during infusions could be improved to offer greater comfort to patients.

Turning Gratitude into Action

Grateful for the exceptional care they received from the compassionate nurses and doctors, Ken and Jan wanted to make a difference.

They contacted the Missouri Baptist Healthcare Foundation about donating. “We decided to use the money we had saved for a new car to purchase 10 new recliner chairs for the Cancer and Infusion Center,” Ken explains.

A Gift with Comfort in Mind

Their donation goals were to ensure the gift directly impacted patients and improved their experience in the infusion center.

The new blue chairs are special. In addition to reclining, they offer patients heated seating and a tray for essentials, making infusions, which can last up to five hours or longer, more comfortable. The new chairs also make the nurses’ jobs easier.

Ken, who has undergone multiple chemo and radiation treatments, took pride in sitting in one of the first new chairs, playfully calling it “his chair.”

While their donation didn’t replace all the recliners, the impact was immediate. Ken and Jan were surprised by the outpouring of appreciation from the community.

An Outpouring of Gratitude

“Doctors and nurses alike would stop to say, ‘thank you,’” Ken says. “It’s heartwarming to know we have touched lives beyond our own in a meaningful way.”