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.
“I found myself very lonely,” said Maria, whose sisters saw her through surgery, chemotherapy and radiation. “I needed to be around people who knew what I was going through.”
Maria was scrolling through Facebook when she saw a post about Wellness House and decided to give it a try. In Wellness House she found a place to exercise, yoga to help her relax, and nutrition classes to help her eat better and feel better. She also found the help and support she was looking for.
As she continues to recover from colon cancer, Maria said she is comforted knowing she will always have the support and resources offered at Wellness House.
“The loneliness, it’s not there anymore. Wellness House is what I was looking for. There, they understand me,” she said.
One year after first visiting Wellness House, Maria said she’s ready to give back to the organization for all it’s done for her. She participated in the Walk for Wellness, raising $200.
“It’s not much,” Maria said, but she’s happy just feel good enough to walk and to look forward to another day.
“It’s been wonderful. I count the days before I can come back here,” Maria said.
“Wellness House makes me want to live.”
Maria – Participant
