Editor:
 
“How was your visit to the Shaw Medical Center for treatment?” a good friend asked.
 
“Wonderful,” I replied. “I love going over there!”
 
“You’re weird,” she said.
 
Maybe, but I have genuinely loved my seven months of traveling to Edwards for chemo and radiation treatments. Each time it was like a mini-vacation, slipping into a different reality where nothing but love existed. I know that sounds sappy but it’s the only way I can describe my experience — a reality of genuine warmth and care and healing.
 
Cancer is a journey like any journey, taking you to new places and new discoveries. It is a journey with many gifts and one of the greatest for me has been coming for treatment to the Shaw Medical Center and staying at Jack’s Place.
 
Jack’s Place is a wonderful house built by the community so that patients would have as little extra stress as possible. Beautiful large rooms with windows overlooking the mountains, a yoga studio, a meditation room, sun room, library, big kitchen, eating area, etc., and a couple of minutes’ walk to the medical center itself. And I found it very helpful to be part of a community of others on the same journey.
 
A big thank you to all my angels in Edwards: My two doctors, Dr. Urquhart and Dr. Hardenberg, the nursing staff in the chemo-treatment room, who wrapped me in warm blankets, brought me food and drink, and treated me as if I were their only patient, the nurses in the radiation area who put up a huge banner stretching across the room wishing me happy birthday on that day, the fitness therapists who became good friends, and many others.
 
I had a miraculous healing and I attribute it largely to the warm embrace of being in this atmosphere. Yes, my friend, I may be weird — I love my visits to Edwards for treatment.

Catherine Garland
Aspen