North Texas organization coordinates free home cleanings for cancer patients
PLANO — A North Texas organization is committed to giving control and peace of mind back to residents who may need help the most in the form of a clean home.
Amy George is happiest when her home is spick and span.
"Cleaning is something that is very therapeutic for me," said Amy George.
Cleaning her home herself is something she takes pride in.
"When you have a clean house, you can think clearly. When you have a clean house, you can have people come over without feeling embarrassed. When you have a clean house, you're just happy," she said.
When she can't clean it she says she feels, "frustrated, incapable, overwhelmed."
They're feelings that could also be used to describe how she felt when diagnosed with breast cancer.
"So in July 2023, I had my regular mammogram, and then they said, well, we see something that we don't like," Amy George said.
She underwent a double mastectomy and chemotherapy, making it hard to continue cleaning her home.
"When I started my chemo, I became very weak, very quickly, and I like to live in a place that's tidy and clean, so I could do very little," said Amy George. "Things started to pile up, even though it's just my husband and me. I could see spider webs. I could see something underneath that I could not clean."
Philip George said he wanted to pick up the slack, but couldn't due to his own health.
"I couldn't help her because I had a stroke before," he said.
That's when Amy George's nurse gave her a flyer for Cleaning for a Reason, an organization that donates home cleanings to cancer patients.
Amy is one of the nearly 60,000 cancer patients the organization has connected with local cleaning companies for help.
Rachel Sanchez is one of the volunteers that help create a peace of mind for cancer patients like Amy George.
She and her parents started Prestige Maintenance, which she now runs with her brother.
"It's in my blood," said Sanchez, "We focused on the primary bedroom, that main bathroom, we cleaned and dusted from ceiling down to the floor."
It's more than just a clean home to Amy George, it's a sense of control handed back to her.
"It's gorgeous! I'm going to enjoy it for the next two or three weeks," she said.
Anyone interested in volunteering with Cleaning for a Reason or donating can visit their website here.