Act of kindness blankets Lakewood Ranch medical office

The story can give you chills.

It involves Lakewood Ranch's David Norris, who knows all about the chills, and the subsequent importance of a warm blanket. First, a little background about David.

In February of 2015, the CEO of financial planner Bottom Line Advisors Inc., was diagnosed with stomach cancer.

Along with that diagnosis came an expiration date, probably within four to six months. The cancer was located toward the top of his stomach and it was effecting his esophagus. He couldn't keep food down and it looked like time to get his affairs in order. No hope.

Fortunately for David, he has been a fitness fanatic most of his life, working out on a daily basis. He went past the no hope doctors and found those who told him his excellent condition opened the door for aggressive treatment. He headed off to the University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center in Houston.

He prepared for the trip with a conversation with his wife, Bobbi. She understood many people battling cancer want to keep everything internal. That wasn't going to be the case here. Bobbi told her husband if he was about to fall down emotionally, he should lean on her. When she had a moment of fear or doubt, and she was ready to fall apart, she would likewise lean on him.

If they were leaning hard into each other, they would stay upright. And so it went.

Bobbi watched her husband deal with the effects of intravenous chemotherapy. He would sit in a treatment room and his whole body would shiver. She knew what she could do.

Which brings us back to the warm blankets.

Being one of the first comprehensive cancer centers in the United States, MD Anderson provided its patients with blankets in a special warming cabinet. Bobbi could get one for her husband, and it made all the difference. With so much going on around him, the warmth allowed him to escape a little of the unpleasantness. "It meant the world to me," he said.

Eventually, David transferred to the Lakewood Ranch clinic of the Florida Cancer Specialists of Florida for the final two months of his eight-month treatment program. Those final two months were going to be grueling since he was going to undergo radiation along with his chemotherapy.

It was there Norris met his newest specialist, Dr. Miguel Pelayo, of Florida Cancer Specialists.

"His coaching, his bedside manner, he's the best," David said of Pelayo.

You could tell David meant every word. He said he couldn't have gotten better care from any doctor, anywhere, Sure, MD Anderson has tremendous resources, and meant the world in his recovery. Pelayo, though, meant something more. David always felt Pelayo was invested in his well-being. It was going to be a team effort.

Pelayo and Florida Cancer Specialists had everything David needed. Everything but a warm blanket.

Being a smaller-sized cancer clinic, Florida Cancer Specialists hasn't accumulated the resources of a MD Anderson. Many of their clinics don't have blanket warmers. "They can be almost a luxury," Pelayo said.

On Dec. 9, David and Bobbi were at Florida Cancer Specialists' Lakewood Ranch office to announce a fundraising drive to buy a blanket warming cabinet for more than 50 Florida Cancer Specialists offices. The first, a $4,000 unit, was delivered to the Lakewood Ranch office.

Florida Cancer Specialist CEO Brad Prechtl presented David and Bobbi a plaque commemorating their generosity.

"Our guest is one of our success stories," Prechtl said.

David has been successful much of his life and it has put him in position to give back. Before his illness, he was operating a foundation aimed at helping those incarcerated in Manatee County. He would deliver items such as reading glasses to the inmates.

That effort will continue, but now he wants to raise $250,000 to buy blanket warmers.

"This can touch the lives of people," David said. "We want to equip all the Florida Cancer Specialists offices. We will with God's good grace and the power of prayer."

Pelayo smiled throughout a 20-minute ceremony as David and Bobbi made their presentation.

"Their way of giving back really speaks to this area where we live," Pelayo said. "Being a resident here, this was exactly why I wanted to come here. It does make a difference."

Pelayo said he always was impressed with the couple. "Bobbi always was there by his side," Pelayo said. "And David had fire in his eyes. He was strong to the finish line."

With David's recovery, there really isn't a finish line. He will continue to raise money for blanket warmers and his wife will help.

Pelayo finished the ceremony and walked off to see other patients. There was more work to do.