When we first envisioned a place of to bring survivors together to work on balance, gain emotional support and fellowship and help them learn tools to reduce anxiety it was a "way out" concept for most of western trained doctors and very little existed in that space.
Fast forward 12 years and the "whole person" approach is now the norm, with a hospital systems around our region and across the country realizing that patients involved in their own health and wellness (outside of the hospital) are happier and more hopeful and are more likely to follow their doctors guidance (what the medical world calls "compliance")!
We have been blessed to witness, and be a small part of, a genuine change in how the medical establishment views support services for cancer survivors. Things like, Yoga, Tai Chi, Nutrition and Exercise that were not even mentioned during treatment for cancer are now being embraced at most, if not all cancer centers. Sure, there's still a long way to go, but if you could go back 12 years you'd be amazed at how far we've come!
Who know what the next 12 years will bring?
With gratitude,
The Wind River Team
Shannon, Dave, Cheryl, Shirley, Mike, Becca