by Wind River Alum Page Leggett
"Even with health insurance, being treated for cancer is expensive. Being a cancer survivor is expensive, too. The scans we're supposed to have each year cost thousands of dollars. Dealing with the healthcare/insurance bureaucracy takes long hours and lots of energy. When I was undergoing treatment last year and my doctors would ask at every visit how I was managing my stress, I'd give them the stink eye. It was all I could do to get out of bed and get myself to the infusion center or my radiation appointment. As much as I needed to slow down and calm down, there was no time. Having cancer is a tiring full-time job. With a lousy salary.
Going to a Wind River Cancer Wellness Retreats retreat was healing for my mind, body and spirit. My weekend with Shannon Carney and Dave Pschirer and my fellow survivors was really the first chance in five months I'd had to catch my breath. Life at Wind River moves at a gentle pace. We did yoga, Tai Chi, hiked, painted, ate healthy food (and learned to cook it!), had healing touch, shared our stories, laughed and cried together. And none of it cost me anything. I'm so grateful to 24 Foundation for making it all possible. My doctors may have saved my life, but Wind River made me want to live again."
- Page Leggett, cancer survivor, #24DaysofHope