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A gorgeous garden helps lift the spirits of patients receiving ...
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A gorgeous garden helps lift the spirits of patients receiving treatment at the Frank and Dorothea Henry Cancer Center.
GERI ANNE KAIKOWSKI gkaikowski@timesleader.com
PLAINS TWP. - There are three huge falls that spew water. Lots of trees. Loads of shrubs. And flowers everywhere. There are some 30 different varieties of colorful, fragrant lush flowers, including roses. Birds fly toward the two birdhouses erected on the land. A butterfly takes a moment to rest on one of the limbs of a tree.
Therese Maxfield from Leadership Wilkes-Barre rakes mulch in the healing garden at the Henry Cancer Center at Geisinger Wyoming Valley Medical Center. The garden was designed by Rob Rave of Rave's Landscaping and planted by volunteers earlier this month.
Fred adams photos/the times leader
The garden outside the Frank and Dorothea Henry Cancer Center at Geisinger Wyoming Valley Medical Center is not only a visual delight; it encompasses all the senses.
It can heal - no, it's not magical and it will not cure your illness - but it might lower your blood pressure, calm your nerves and give you hope that somehow things are alright in the world. And that can be a priceless gift when you're hooked up to an intravenous unit receiving your weekly dose of medicine for cancer.
All you have to do is look up at the room where patients receive their chemotherapy and see them peering out the window enjoying the sights and sounds of the season.
"Any kind of flowers can always make a woman feel good," said Charelyn Evans, of Hunlock Creek.
And that sentiment is true especially if that woman is ill and undergoing treatment.
Evans, who was diagnosed with breast cancer several months ago, said her five-hour weekly session of intravenous chemotherapy can be monotonous. She sits, picks up a book to read, watches some TV, tries to eat a light lunch and then just sits around again. "But you can only sit so long," she said.
Evans said she is thrilled to have a garden she can gaze upon. "When you see things growing, you just automatically feel good; you feel new again," said Evans.
Helping a cancer patient feel renewed is exactly what the Garden Gnomes group of Leadership Wilkes-Barre Class of 2009 had in mind when it decided to construct a healing garden as its project. The group consists of 11 members of the business community, who wished to make a positive impact upon the health of patients.
"The design of the garden has colors, textures, shapes and scents," said Amy Lingobardo, an employee of Geisinger's public relations department and a member of the Garden Gnomes.
About 100 area residents, including cancer survivors and their family members, brought their shovels and participated in a Community Planting Day earlier this month. Live plants, shrubs and trees were placed in the ground to have an instantaneous "growth" of the garden. About 30 to 35 different varieties of plants were purchased, including lilac bushes, creeping Myrtles, roses, ferns, boxwoods and rhododendrons.
"One of the best parts of the project is that now that's done, the results are immediate," said Lingobardo. "It will have an immediate impact on cancer patients. The grounds went from an empty muddy hill on a Saturday morning to a gorgeous garden on a Saturday afternoon."
Dr. T.S. Ravikumar, co-leader of Cancer Services at Geisinger Health System and the Henry Cancer Center, said the healing garden complements the medical care since it is "giving conducive conditions to treatment."
The physician said feedback shows that a tranquil setting lowers heart rates and blood pressure. "The more physically, emotionally and mentally stable a patient is, the better the performance outcome," said Ravikumar. "Visual serenity adds to the emotional well-being of the patient."
The cancer center provides comprehensive cancer consultation, diagnosis and treatment, including clinical trials, for all types of adult cancers - including breast, brain, lung and prostate - for patients age 18 and older. It is a partnership between Geisinger and Fox Chase Cancer Center - a National Cancer Institute-designated comprehensive cancer center. The collaboration aims to develop cancer prevention strategies, cultivate cancer research, enhance diagnostic techniques and provide access to advanced treatment and clinical trials.
About 500 new patients each year are cared for at the cancer center, according to Ravikumar.
The Garden Gnomes researched gardens, flora and wishes of cancer patients for several months when developing the project. They questioned some 30 to 50 patients, literally distributing paper surveys asking what they wanted in the garden. "We went into this that it wasn't our garden," said Lingobardo. "This is a cancer patient's garden.
"Some people were specific in the survey and named actual plants. Others just said something like, 'I want something where I can watch the butterflies land.' So, every patient got at least something on his list."
Lingobardo and the Gnomes are pleased the project evolved into a true community endeavor. Not only did county residents participate in fundraisers, but they also volunteered time and effort to make the garden possible. Rob Rave, owner of Rave's Landscaping, designed the garden and broke ground for the event in March. The first water fountains were brought in shortly after that and cancer center staffers quickly noticed the relaxing effect those had on the patients.
A volunteer handmade three bird feeders. Another person painted some rock art and placed it at the base of the flowers.
Leadership Wilkes-Barre still hopes to get two benches to complete the patio, which will be put in at the end of the month. The garden is expected to be completely finished by the group's June 4 leadership class graduation.
A series of projects also helped fund the endeavor, which cost around $11,000. The group sold about 60 bricks to memorialize loved ones who died from cancer or to celebrate the lives of cancer survivors. These were placed as part of the patio. Plants were sold for the Community Planting Day, with donations taken to offset the original cost of the garden.
An evening tea was held at Sugar's Tea Room and InterMetro held a Dress Down Day to raise funds. The medical center also conducted a bake sale.
Perhaps one of the biggest fundraisers was the smallest one. Beaded pins for $5 were sold, with many being purchased by cancer patients themselves.
"A large part of the garden was built with those $5 donations," said Lingobardo.
When the Garden Gnomes researched the project, they found several healing gardens in the U.S., some at cancer centers, but they are proud to say this is the only healing garden, targeted specifically for cancer patients, in Northeastern Pennsylvania.
"There are no words to describe the excitement and emotion that our team members feel about this project," said Lingobardo. "It's been such a growing experience for us."
The Gnome team
Garden Gnome team members of the Leadership Wilkes-Barre, Class of 2009 are: Nancy Fera, InterMetro Industries; Melissa Ide, Johnson College; Brian Kapsick, Merck & Co., Inc. Pharmaceuticals; Amy Lingobardo, Geisinger Health System; Kim Mason, Blue Cross of Northeastern PA; Therese Maxfield, Great Valley Technology Alliance; Sharon Monie, Penn Millers Insurance Company; Jennifer Paolucci, Greater Wilkes-Barre Chamber of Business and Industry; Bernadette Rushmer, Misericordia University; Fern Schooley, CVS CareMark, and Melissa Tomascik, Penn State
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