Wendi Pedicone
I joined the
Wednesday night support group for cancer patients and he joined the
one for caregivers. The people who are, and have been, members of
the Wednesday night cancer patient support group have become my
friends. I am not able to come every week; I come every other or
every third week. Sometimes I fail to attend “group” due to my
schedule with my family (we have four children ranging from 20 to 4)
and other times, it’s because I get the support and puhlenty
of energy I need from my “group” friends to sustain me for far more
than a week. My “group” friends seem to understand that the
schedule I keep does not enable a consistent, weekly visit, and I
can say that after the times that I do attend I walk to my car with
a lilt in my step and a smile on my face….even when we’ve
discussed difficult, serious, or fearful topics. It is cathartic to
express my fears to other people with cancer, because they are fears
I prefer not to express to my family and loved ones. They are
often times reflections and emotions that only another cancer patient
could understand. This is a strong reason to have not one but two
group sessions – the one for us cancer patients and the other one
for our loved ones.
In addition to the knowledge I get from The
Wellness Community “group,” the information I share, and the
emotions I express, I enjoy some of the other goodies TWC has to
offer: I have discovered that the Thursday morning yoga session is
an important addition to my healing, and I am thinking of trying a
t’ai chi class, and may participate in some of the “Exploring Your
Mortality” sessions. I often utilize the library which holds a
plethora of books that are categorized in an easy-to-use way. And
last but not least, a critical component of TWC’s success is the
warmth I am greeted with every time I walk over the threshold of the
front door. Most everyone who works or volunteers at TWC has had a
cancer encounter, so the understanding and compassion is strong.
The New Castle
County, Delaware location on Lancaster Pike is a lovely eighteenth
century, two-story structure and a gem of a home that has been
converted into a public facility. It has an original brick
cook-fireplace, board-and-batton ceilings, wood flooring with wooden
dowels and
a few roomy additions used for
large gatherings and physical wellness classes. The first time I
walked upstairs to visit someone in her office, I couldn’t help but
notice the gentle creaky sounds of the old wooden steps, the
smallness of the offices (the rooms were less costly to heat in the
eighteenth century if they were small), and the deep set window
casings. Beautiful. This jewel of a building extends itself to
patios and porches and is adorned with relaxing gardens, artwork
and plaques inscribed with healing words and notices of donations
from caring people and organizations. It is a place one can drive
to, look around, take a deep breath and literally feel the positive
energy emanating from it.
No matter what time of day or evening,
there are usually several things happening at the same time; someone
may be cooking in the kitchen or conducting a nutrition class,
others may be decorating for an event, and another may be talking
with a person with cancer who is considering TWC as a resource.
My husband and I discovered that support
group work is more beneficial for me than it is for him. We were
made to feel that it’s okay – group therapy isn’t for everyone. He
tried a few sessions, and found himself moving toward other avenues
of support for his primary care. However, he wholeheartedly
supports my need to be with my “group” friends, and he has noticed
that I am always “lighter” when I arrive home.
I am now a stage IV breast cancer patient (my
cancer has spread to my liver, bones and abdominal lymph nodes) and
I use much of what TWC has to offer. I wrote a self-help book that
includes the tale of my first cancer journey and a portion of the
proceeds from the sale of the book will go to TWC. It is my way of
giving back to those who have helped me and to help TWC to continue
to help others like me.
To put it in one of my teenage daughters
words – The Wellness Community rocks!
(Editor’s Note: Wendi Pedicone is the author
of “Hanging Out With Lab Coats: Hope Humor & Help for Cancer
Patients and their Families.” The book is available in local
bookstores and at
www.foxpress.com.
Editor's Note: After a courageous battle, Wendi completed
her life journey of helping and inspiring others and passed away
on February 25, 2008, surrounded by loved ones.
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