By Donna Fisher
Laura Cano cried when she learned she had breast cancer. But then the doctor called and reassured her. Telling her it was stage 1, he said, “Don’t worry. We’ll take care of you.” And between the care and support she received, she didn’t cry again.
Two years later, she says, “Rush Copley is the best. They saved my life.”
Laura, now 68, was treated at RUSH MD Anderson Cancer Center at Rush Copley where she had surgery and radiation. She also found support and alternative therapies at Waterford Place Cancer Resource Center.
A difficult experience
“My cancer journey has been one of the most difficult experiences of my life,” she says. But with the care she received, the kindness and empathy shown to her, the support she found and her faith, she made it through. She says the nurses were her angels and she appreciates the kindness and empathy they showed her.
Along the way, she faced not only the physical challenges of treatment but also the emotional and financial stress that accompany a cancer diagnosis. There were days she felt overwhelmed and unsure of what the future would hold. But the people at Waterford Place Cancer Resource Center helped her through that.
“Waterford Place made a tremendous difference to me and my family,” she says.
Funded entirely by philanthropy, Waterford Place provides services and support, at no cost to participants, to anyone affected by a cancer diagnosis. Programs are designed to support the whole person — body, mind and spirit — and include wellness classes, support groups, educational workshops, creative therapies and personalized services.
From the moment she walked through the doors, she felt welcomed, supported and understood. The staff and resources gave her comfort.
Finding encouragement and compassion
“Knowing there was a place where I could find encouragement, guidance and compassionate care reminded me that I was not facing this journey alone,” she says.
Now she goes to Waterford Place five days a week, participating in exercise classes like chair yoga and tai chi. She also enjoys massage as well as art and cooking classes.
The programs have taught her so much, including that exercise helps ease her symptoms.
“Now I know I need to exercise,” she says. “You don’t have to take pills. Moving and walking is what we need.”
Massage sessions at Waterford Place also eased her pain. And just physically being there helped her emotionally. While exercising or taking a nutrition class or chatting with others, she says she feels happy. It fills her mind and leaves her no time to cry.
Available to everyone
Waterford Place helped her mentally, physically and financially.
She stressed the importance of receiving services free of charge. Patients going through treatment benefit from therapy and exercise. Without these free services, many participants would be unable to afford the services they need.
If she didn’t have the programs at Waterford Place, Laura says she would likely just stay at home. But, she believes, “You have to get up and out.”
To Laura, Waterford Place is more than a resource center. “It’s a community filled with hope, kindness and people who truly care,” she says. “The support I received helped lighten the burden my family and I were carrying and allowed me to focus on healing.”
Encouraging others
Now when Laura sees patients in the waiting room looking sad and alone, she tries to encourage them.
“I tell them nothing is forever,” she says. “They need to hear something good.”
Her advice:
- Be brave.
- Be patient.
- Be strong.
- Be positive.
- Don’t feel guilty: It’s not your fault that you got cancer.
- Forgive.
“Wake up happy,” she says. “Take a shower, look in the mirror and tell yourself you’re beautiful.”
Laura has a strong faith and believes in the power of reading the Bible and devotionals.
“God will speak to you,” she says. “God always gives you the strength to support you, to be strong, to accept the things you can’t change.”
Laura is deeply grateful for everything Waterford Place has done for her.
“Their compassion, generosity and unwavering support have made a lasting impact on my life,” she says. “I hope others facing cancer will find the same comfort and hope that I found here. Thank you for being a light during one of the darkest times of my journey.”
