At the front desk of Wellness House, Josette Cray has answered phones, greets visitors, and has offered a smile that makes everyone feel at home. For Josette, volunteering isn’t just about logistics; it’s about connection. “You’re the first person a participant sees when they walk in the door,” she says. “I like being the person who makes them feel welcome.”
As the baby of her family, Maria Villafuerte is accustomed to being cared for and protected by her two older sisters. But when it came to facing her life post-cancer, Maria found she needed more.
Among the many individuals whose dedication helped shape Wellness House is Frank Wills, a beloved volunteer whose impact continues to be felt long after his passing.
Frank arrived at Wellness House in 1992, just as our newly built home opened its doors. From the very beginning, he brought not only a unique skill set, but also a deep sense of ownership and belonging. Passionate about the healing power of Qi Gong,
My children were 5 and 8 yrs old when I was diagnosed with cancer. They asked me “Are you going to die now Mommy”?
I read about the Wellness House in our local Hinsdale weekly newspaper. I was hopeful my children and I could navigate this disease better there than by ourselves. My son was in kindergarten, and my daughter was in third grade.
Lyle and his wife, Carol, discovered Wellness House in 2018, shortly after Carol was diagnosed with breast cancer. It was a nurse at Elmhurst Hospital,… Read More »Fall Newsletter 2025
In June 2013, Haruko received shocking news. She was diagnosed with Stage 2 Estrogen Positive Breast Cancer. After the initial shock, Haruko underwent a single mastectomy and chemotherapy. She learned about the programs at Wellness House, attended a film screening about breast cancer, and later joined the Rush-Oak Park Breast Cancer Group.
Betty Lofton has always practiced gratitude, even before her journey with cancer. Her journey began in November 2019 after a routine mammogram led to Betty’s diagnosis with breast cancer. “I was getting a lot of information from my surgeon
and oncologist who believed my cancer was estrogen-driven,” says Betty. To learn more about the cancer experience, Betty participated in two Wellness House support groups at Rush-Oak Park. Betty also participated in Mile Square Health Center Programs Cooking for Cancer, Thriving and Surviving, Tai Chi, Total Body Stretch, Soul Chat and the Mindfulness Series.
“I remember it as if it were yesterday. Just three weeks after Kevin’s well-baby checkup, he began complaining of pain in his foot. At first, it only happened at night, but soon the frequency increased, and Kevin started having trouble climbing the stairs.
At the time, I was working 4–6 days a month as a nurse at the hospital. When I shared Kevin’s symptoms, some of my peers reassured me by saying their sons also complained of “growing pains.” Looking back, those words echo in my mind as I think of how quickly things changed for us.
And just like that, Hinsdale is back in the rhythm of life! While I’m probably the only person in town trying to hang on to the last fleeting days of the summer heat, I definitely feel the pull toward fall. With kids back in school, soccer nets up at the parks and “Friday Night Lights” festivities in full effect, we’re now officially looking at our calendars for what’s coming up on the social scene.
There may not be another fall event as highly anticipated as the Wellness House Ball. Set at the Radisson Blu Aqua Hotel in Chicago on Oct. 18, this is a night set to sparkle, as well-heeled guests arrive at a glistening venue of gold and jade accents. With the illuminated skyline as a backdrop, this event always draws the crème de la crème of Hinsdale society.
Chicago Cubs legend Ryne Sandberg bravely shared his journey with metastatic prostate cancer before his passing in July, serving as a powerful advocate for talking about the disease and getting screenings for early detection.
Dr. Russell Szmulewitz, professor of medicine and director of the genitourinary oncology program at UChicago Medicine’s Comprehensive Cancer Center, said such high-profile advocates for prostate health can destigmatize the topic for men reluctant to discuss sensitive health issues.
“These public-facing cases have opened up people’s eyes to the fact that this affects more than 300,000 men a year,” Szmulewitz said. “Even for those that aren’t affected by the illness, it makes it a little bit personal and legitimizes the struggle that (patients) face with their illness. They know that they’re not alone and that even famous people are battling this illness.”
September is Prostate Cancer Awareness Month, and Wellness House is hosting its annual Hot Topics in Prostate Cancer symposium on Saturday, Sept 27, where Szmulewitz will present updates in medical oncology as one of the participating physicians (see Page 19 for details).
In 1990, the Chicago Tribune reported on a groundbreaking study from UCLA showing that cancer patients who participated in structured support groups experienced more than emotional relief—they demonstrated measurable improvements in immune function and quality of life. Patients who attended weekly sessions learned relaxation techniques, shared their fears and coping strategies, and reported feeling less depressed and more resilient. Notably, the study suggested that psychosocial support might even influence survival outcomes, with patients in support groups living significantly longer than those who received only medical care (Chicago Tribune, October 26, 1990).
I attended groups at Wellness House from 2012-2014 with others who were going through breast cancer treatments at different stages of their treatment. I was able to attend the make-up session which was so helpful as I lost all my facial hair. The facilitator of this program actually provided me with a private session as I was in and out of the hospital during my chemo and missed two of the group sessions. I appreciated that so much. I was given a free wig to cover my bald head – I brought my stylist with me since I really trusted her input – we had so much fun! I also attended many of the educational sessions that I felt were extremely valuable during that time of my life.