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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.


    But the pandemic hit shortly after she began attending programs. “Wellness House was a blessing during the pandemic, specifically the online classes,” says Betty. “I started with nutrition classes and continued from there.” Before taking the nutrition classes, Betty was unaware of how much our bodies are affected by what we eat. Now she reads food labels and tries to maintain a plant-based diet. She says the food is both delicious and nutritious and credits Wellness House for her newfound nutritional acumen. “I learned so much,” says Betty. “There is just a wealth of information and those classes are invaluable.” Betty has also participated in exercise classes which are geared towards cancer patients and adaptable to individual needs. She finds Chair Yoga calming and
    the Stressless Breathing classes useful for managing her anxiety. Says Betty, “The instructor demonstrated diaphragmatic breathing which has been so helpful.


    I still breathe like that. During the pandemic when I couldn’t go anywhere, I was able to find those classes online.”
    Betty found Wellness House support groups equally impactful. Betty began with the Breast Cancer Support Group, the Drop-in Women’s Group, Strategies for Stress, and Meaning-Centered Psychotherapy classes. “Through these classes, I learned what I really want to leave as my legacy to my grandchildren,” says Betty. The Spiritual Side of Cancer was perhaps the most meaningful program to Betty. “The classes taken at Wellness House have only enhanced me,” says Betty. “Sharing with other women who have had breast cancer and listening to their journey was insightful. I learned to have an attitude of gratitude on a daily basis. I believe that
    every day, I was put here to help someone else.”


    Participant – Betty

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