Ayanna Smith, a breast cancer survivor and startup enthusiast, has unveiled Journey Together, an innovative app designed to streamline support for those facing medical crises and other life events. This groundbreaking platform aims to revolutionize how people offer and receive care during challenging times.
Breast Cancer Survivor Creates App to Organize Support
Smith’s personal experience with breast cancer inspired the creation of Journey Together. During her treatment, she felt overwhelmed by well-meaning offers of support that often missed the mark.
“Initially, people start sending you flowers and all of those things but your journey is long,” Smith explained to the media. She recognized the need for sustained, practical support throughout the entire recovery process.
Journey Together App: Tailoring Care to Patient Needs
The Journey Together app allows users to customize their care preferences easily. It provides a centralized platform for organizing various forms of support.
One key feature notifies supporters when recipients are available for calls or visits. This thoughtful approach helps manage communication effectively, reducing stress for patients and caregivers alike.
Practical Support Features for Medical and Life Events
Journey Together goes beyond traditional support methods. Users can create wish lists linked to retail sites and gift registries.
The app also facilitates financial support through CashApp, Venmo, and GoFundMe integrations. This feature addresses a crucial need Smith identified during her own treatment.
Coordinating Tasks and Volunteer Efforts
Another standout feature of Journey Together is its task management system. Supporters can sign up for specific tasks like childcare, grocery shopping, or providing rides to medical appointments.
Smith emphasized the app’s versatility, stating, “I wanted something that allowed everything to be easy because it’s already hard.”
Expanding Beyond Medical Care
While initially focused on medical support, Journey Together has broader applications. The app can assist with various life events including funerals, military deployments, and natural disasters.
This flexibility makes Journey Together a valuable tool for community support in diverse situations. It streamlines organization efforts for both individuals and groups.
User Feedback and Future Development
Currently in beta, Journey Together is available for free on both Apple and Google app stores. Smith encourages users to provide feedback to help refine and improve the app.
However, she also highlights a significant challenge: “When people ask how they can support this initiative and venture, it’s through funding,” Smith notes, acknowledging the funding hurdles faced by Black founders.
A New Era of Digital Support and Care
Journey Together represents a significant step forward in digital support systems. By addressing real-world needs identified through personal experience, Smith has created a tool with potential for widespread impact.
As the app continues to evolve, it promises to transform how communities rally around those in need, making support more efficient, practical, and tailored to individual circumstances.
