|
November 2001 Breast Cancer Survivor Retreat Photos
SURVIVOR QUILT OF ENCOURAGEMENT
Driveway up to Bon Secours Spiritual Center on November 4, 2001 |
Walking the labyrinth... |
More labyrinth meditation... |
Catching the sun during a breast cancer survivor walking the grounds outside... |
The view from the deck at Bon Secours... fall foliage in full blown and ducks swimming about... |
The view from a private room of a breast cancer survivor participant at the Retreat. Fall leaves was the theme of our metamorphic change from being a breast cancer patient to now a breast cancer survivor.... the grounds supported our theme perfectly. |
Dr. Maria Weiss, founder of Living Beyond Breast Cancer, shows everyone what it is like for a doctor to be transformed into a patient and experience what we have each experienced!! |
A participant talking with Dr. Weiss after her presentation... |
Survivor participants busy listening to a lecture by Dr. Kim Peairs on menopausal management. |
Time for lunch!! |
More food!! |
Enjoying one another's company over lunch... |
Dr. Marla Caplan (right) talking about ways to reduce daily stress in our lives. "Wolf" was at the podium providing additional examples. |
Participants practicing some of the stress reduction techniques during the session. |
Relaxation techniques demonstrated during the Stress Management workshop. (The pale orange tote bags on the tables were provided to all participants and were filled with goodies!) |
Dinner time... having a chat with Lillie Shockney (second from far right). |
Getting to know one another and the experiences we have in common as breast cancer survivors. (Lillie Shockney, far right) |
More sharing over dinner... |
Each participant had an interesting story to share about her breast cancer journey... |
Time for our Pajama Party!! Lillie Shockney is holding a huge plate of sugar cookies, cut in the shape of maple leaves (made by her mom.) |
Lillie Shockney gives a presentation on the Value of Humor When Confronted with Breast Cancer. |
Roz Treibel, a humor therapist, followed Lillie's presentation and kept the crowd giggling! |
Everyone was provided a red bag filled with funny things to help them find the laughter hidden within all of us. |
Lillie Shockney (left) and Paula Polder sharing a giggle together during the program! (Paula, a breast cancer nurse who traveled from Loma Linda's Breast Cancer Center to attend the Retreat with the goal to replicate this program when she returns.) |
Roz got people to think about the power of laughter as a stress reducer. |
Participants try on their red clown noses! |
More unexpected giggles! |
Day 2- more participants go out during free time to walk the labyrinth. |
Meditation during the labyrinth walk... |
We were surrounded by magnificent fall foliage during the entire Retreat, reinforcing that just like the leaves change, so have we- being transformed from breast cancer patients to breast cancer survivors. |
Reassessing Goals and Values brought the participants together physically and emotionally. |
Judi Nowak, an RN who gave presentations on Reassessing Goals and Values as well as teaching a spirituality session. |
During the spirituality session there was even an opportunity to dance! |
... and sing!! |
A special part of the Survivor Retreat was creating a Tree of Life and Hope. Each participant wrote a letter to a woman who they learned had been diagnosed that day. The letter, written on fall leaf paper, was intended to provide the newly diagnosed woman hope, give her good advice and inspire her to fight the fight as she begins her journey as a breast cancer patient. |
Each survivor participant was asked to read her letter to the group before placing it on the tree. This brought tears for many of us... (Judy Matthews, a survivor volunteer who staffed the event is facing the camera while holding Betsy Wells who read her letter. Pat Williford, another survivor volunteer who staffed the event, is rooting Betsy on!) |
Placing the leaves on the Tree of Life and Hope. |
Another Survivor participant reading her letter to the group... |
.. Then placing her leave on the tree. |
The Tree of Life and Hope continues to grow. |
And grows, filled with well wishes, good advice, and a sense of knowing that those who have placed their leaves on the trees are truly now survivors.... |
Awards ceremony- the finale immediately following the creation of the Tree was a special ceremony acknowledging each Survivor and, based on interviews done by the staff, telling the group something about them- their future goals they want to achieve in their life... how they want to leave their mark in this world... Each was presented formally with a pink ribbon award from Lillie Shockney. |
A group photo of the participants was taken as the Retreat came to a closure. |
|
