Meet Chandra Heyman

Chandra Heyman

I am a Southern California native.  Born in Los Angeles and raised in Pomona.  I attended Cal Poly, Pomona where I received a Bachelors of Arts degree and the University of Laverne, receiving a Masters in Business Administration.  I currently work as an Administrator of Operations/Senior Leader at a local Medical Center where I have worked more than 25 years.

In March 2018 I founded the non-profit, 501c3 organization, Talking Angels. This was immediately after the passing of my mother.

My mother, Naomi Fisher, a 20-year colorectal cancer survivor, who at 82 years old, battled Complex Parkinson’s disease. In early January 2018, she was declared hospice with less than 3 months to live. During my mother’s less than 60-day stay in in-home hospice, the nursing staff demonstrated extraordinary care to my mother and pure compassion to my two sisters and I. After my mother’s passing, post-burial, life just wasn’t the same. Yet, I knew that I must return to my “normal” everyday life as a mother of 3 children and a grandmother of one.  During the grieving process and after being comforted by so many who showed their care and concern, I was led to move forward with starting a non-profit organization in honor of my mother.  My mother, a native of Winston Salem, North Carolina, enjoyed cooking and entertaining, showing off her Southern hospitality.  She loved to talk and was a strong believer in angels. She believed the angels would talk and angels watched over us.  The premise of the organization would be to donate keepsake blankets to those chronically ill or going through treatment, i.e., chemotherapy, to bring warmth and comfort. To do this, the blanket must be of good quality, warm, comforting, a neutral color, and one that would be appropriate for an adult or pediatric patient. After sampling just a few blankets, the blanket of choice was a grey Sherpa throw blanket. The blanket would possess the “Talking Angels” logo, a registered trademark with the USPO.  I chose to trademark the name, Talking Angels because I knew this venture would be long term.  The organization began donating the blankets to individuals and local hospitals. Our first keepsake blanket recipient was a little girl at 7 years old, diagnosed with Pre-B Cell Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia. Followed by a gentleman battling stage 4 pancreatic cancer. After donating an abundance of the keepsake blankets to local hospitals and coming in contact with countless individuals, it was clear that one of the common illnesses amongst a majority of the keepsake blanket recipients was cancer. The organization then shifted to cancer awareness. In 2021, the ribbon project began with the PINK ribbon in honor of breast cancer awareness.  Two hundred of the special edition keepsake blankets were donated to survivors and to those going through treatment. The following year, in 2022, we continued with the PINK ribbon and introduced the TEAL ribbon in honor of ovarian cancer. The PEACH ribbon in honor of uterine cancer. The YELLOW ribbon, in honor of childhood cancer awareness, and the PURPLE ribbon in honor of pancreatic cancer awareness. Over 400 of the keepsake blankets donated to the causes during the months of September – November. The ribbon projects continued in 2023 with the addition of the BLUE ribbon in honor of colorectal cancer and the WHITE ribbon in honor of lung cancer awareness. Five hundred of the special edition keepsake blankets donated. In 2024, the LIGHT BLUE ribbon keepsake blanket in honor of prostate cancer awareness was introduced. The GOAL is to donate greater than 500 of the special edition keepsake blankets by year-end, as well as to continue the ribbon projects, donating a minimum of 500 blankets every year going forward. Each year, an overall goal is set for blanket donations. This is done by estimating how much money can be raised and or received from donors. Our goal over the past few years has averaged 800 blankets. In 2024, we have raised the bar with an end-of-the-year blanket donation goal of 1500 blankets. This can be only be made possible with appropriate amount of funds raised and or received through public and or private donations.

Recipients of the keepsake blankets continue to thank us through testimonials, “my brother received his beautiful package from you, and we just wanted to thank you again. He really loves everything: the stress ball, beanie, and blanket. Your work will continue to inspire the world and make a positive impact on the lives of others. Thank you, thank you.” “My dad had the blanket you gave him the first day of chemo by his side all the way until the hour he left the earth. That’s how much of a difference your organization makes.” “My beautiful wife battled pancreatic cancer for seventeen months, and through it, Talking Angels provided her additional love and support. Thank you.” “I just met a patient with your blanket, and it meant so much to her recovery. Wanted to tell you that you’re doing amazing things and I’m seeing the benefit of it first-hand.”  Talking Angels is not just about the memory of my mother but about the 4,650 blanket recipients United States-wide, who too, are forever Talking Angels.  May each blanket continue to bring warmth and comfort. We appreciate your support!

Talking Angels has been showcased through multiple podcasts and news channels, FOXLA and NBC Bright Spot.  In 2021 an abstract was submitted for the Oncology Nursing Society (ONS) Annual Conference, highlighting Talking Angels.  The abstract would read, “Dealing with the loss of Human Touch During the Pandemic for Oncology Patients.”  The abstract is a result of our keepsake blanket donations to a local hospital, Adult Inpatient Oncology Unit during the peak of the COVID-19 Pandemic.