For the last 15 years, Elaine Adams has been volunteering at Wellness House in Hinsdale. On Wednesdays, she works the front desk. On Mondays and Thursdays, she helps women experiencing hair loss from cancer treatment find the right wig. Each fitting is unique: Through trial and error, they experiment with a variety of hair colors and styles to ensure each client feels physically and mentally comfortable with their selection.
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Inspiration Through Friendships and Knowledge
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.
Attitude of Gratitude
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.
My Place of Comfort and Community
“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.