Hope4Cancer: Day Two—The IV Room & The Jewels Within
“I am grateful to be in a loving and healing environment. I am surrounded by people of faith and purpose, and all are expecting miracles.”
—Rochelle
Before going to Cancun, I thought I’d be enjoying the salt smells and emerald reflections of the ocean, while healing in the sun, surrounded by yachts and coconut palms. But that was not what moved me. No, it was a much more intimate experience.
When each of us was assigned to the IV Room, we were given a single, white robe. Initially, any warmth of the material was cooled by the starkness of its simplicity. But that soon changed.
We came off the street as colorful individuals but when we filled up the IV Room, all draped in white, we became one. We were externally homogenized. Our bond was not only spiritual and emotional, but now it was also visual. And it was almost like the disease didn't matter. It was all about connection. And that that was when the stories began. That is when I learned about the jewels seated in the hearts of my fellow, white-robed warriors.
I rejoice in how my heart was transformed by each unique story. Some individuals had been through chemotherapy; others, radiation. Some had experienced multiple surgeries. Some had multiple kids, while others were struggling to support family members. We were people from all over the world, from all faiths and walks of life, and we were all united in love. The spirit of healing was palpable. The space, again, was alive.
In retrospect, I admit that I went there with a preconceived idea that people would be sick. But, like me, these people had taken care of themselves all of their lives. They had been living on healthy, clean diets, with happy attitudes, and purposeful goals. Not one person who showed up was finished.
They all still have dreams. They are all driven.
And cancer was definitely a big interruption.
Coming together in our robes also focused our awareness in Hope4Cancer (the name of the clinic). So, with this time of reflection, sitting in the IV Room, we had a chance to rethink our strategy: if we have a third of our lives left--and some people have 50% of their lives left--what is the best and highest use of our time?
So, I think that also was the big awakening. With those white robes, we quietly surrendered our distinctiveness to discover each other’s uniqueness. And the healing wasn’t a wow feeling, or a mind-blowing state of mind. The truth is that the healing came from one another.