It is a time to escape the constant pressure of living with metastatic disease. At the same time, it is a place where words of comfort, words of inspiration and information will guide the patient and the care giver. It is innovative and reflects the care needed to treat the “whole” patient rather than just the medical side of cancer.
It is so important….
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January 24, 2013 @ 7:03 pm
What a wonderful idea that now has been implemented! How special that all of couples now know that their feelings and struggles are similar. They are not unique therefore alienated from others who are in the fight. There is great commonality and hopefully great strength to be gained from such retreats.
As I reflect upon this retreat, it has great applicability across many other diseases as well as cancer. It is a terrific model. Thank you Laurie for sharing it with us and for your work on behalf of those in the fight. As you know, the cancer world can be quite alienating and isolating for the patient and caregiver. This model allows for the building and re-building of those bridges often knocked down during the fight.
January 23, 2013 @ 9:10 pm
I am awed. As a survivor and as one who is lucky enough to be NED I am continually humbled by the efforts made to bring the ‘team’, the care giver and patient to a complete whole.
What a difference it makes to have your whole being considered not just your disease.
What a difference it makes to have your family included and to know they will be cared for too.
January 22, 2013 @ 6:33 pm
I can’t believe I was able to watch this without crying. What a wonderful program this is and how I wish Jim and I had been able to benefit from something like this. There are so many things that are difficult to discuss but to be able to go somewhere with people that are facing the same issues and to receive help that is not in the form of an injection or a drip is invaluable. Thank you and to your friends at Hopkins for taking care of everyone. How I wish our local cancer center had a program like this.
January 22, 2013 @ 3:56 pm
Thank you for making this available, Laurie. I tweeted it so that others might learn about the program and share the information. It is important. What a difference this gathering must have made to those who attended.
January 22, 2013 @ 5:21 pm
Thanks MO…It made a HUGE difference to all who were there and I’m including the doctors, nurses and other experts who came to share their expertise. It changed us all. Please do distribute to those you think would benefit.
Thanks,
Laurie