For Barry Goldblatt, having cancer was a “bump in the road.” Even during four months of chemotherapy for non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma, he continued working, jogging through the streets of Princeton where he lives and works, and going out to dinner with his wife, Andrea McLaughlin. (Non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma is a cancer that starts in the lymphatic system, the disease-fighting network that is spread throughout the body.)
Surviving Cancer with an Upbeat Nature and Expert Medical Care
The positive attitude of the doctors and nurses at University Medical Center at Princeton, combined with Barry’s upbeat nature, helped him become a survivor. “Everyone around me was positive and upbeat. That made the experience as painless and pleasant as possible,” said Barry, who works in marketing for Church & Dwight Co., Inc. The company is the world’s leading producer of baking soda. It is best known for its ARM & HAMMER® brand.
After being diagnosed with non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma at University Medical Center at Princeton, Barry had to decide where he should go for his cancer care. With the encouragement of his oncologist, Peter Yi, MD, Barry consulted oncologists at other hospitals in New Jersey and New York. “Nobody suggested that there was any reason not to be treated locally. Everybody had all the confidence in the world in Dr. Yi,” he said.
So Barry chose University Medical Center at Princeton, less than half a mile from his house, for his cancer care. In 2009, he celebrated six cancer-free years since he completed his treatment. “I’m eternally grateful for the expertise, compassion and support of the members of the hospital oncology staff,” he said.
Supporting Cancer Care Through a Charitable Lead Trust
In thanks for the life-saving care Barry received at University Medical Center at Princeton, he established a charitable lead trust to help support cancer care in the new hospital, Princeton Medical Center. His gift will be recognized by naming the nurses’ station in the Oncology Infusion Therapy Area.
“I wanted to give back to the hospital for what was provided to me. The infusion area was the part of the hospital that was closest to home for me,” said Barry. “I was treated there and treated well.” Barry chose a charitable lead trust because it would benefit both him and Princeton Health. The trust enabled him to make a significant charitable gift for a specified period of time while protecting his assets. Barry transferred the assets to the trustee, which professionally invests and manages them. He receives a charitable income-tax deduction for the present value of the annual payments the trustee makes to Princeton Health.
“A charitable lead trust is a creative way to give that is less painful than simply writing a check. You can stretch the institution’s money and your own money,” he said.
