Cancer is scary and life-changing.
“When I was diagnosed with cancer,” Dottie Boner, from Hartville, stated, “it was the most devastating thing I had ever been through in my life.”
She was givng a PowerPoint for Maranatha Bible Church on a Sunday morning, when she had a grand mal seizure. They immediately stopped the service. She went to the hospital and the congregation prayed. They found a brain tumor and gave her one-to-two years to live, after surgery. She opted not to have chemotherapy or radiation because they said she would die regardless. Seven years later, she is still alive and is one of the volunteers at Stewart’s Caring Place, in Fairlawn.
Every month, Stewart’s serves more than 700 individuals who have been touched by cancer. They are the only non-profit wellness service for cancer patients and their families in Summit, Stark, Medina, Portage, and Wayne counties. All of their services are completely free.
Dottie is one of more than 200 volunteers who help cancer patients and their families at the center. “It was a miracle that the cancer didn’t come back,” she explained. “I consider it a great privilege to be a part of something that is helping other people when they are hurting.”
One participant was very afraid when diagnosed with the disease. “I walked in [Stewart’s] sick, frightened, confused and alone. What I found were people who already understood what I was going through and who could help me prepare for what lay ahead. I found cheerleaders. I found a wealth of resources. I left loaded with books from their library…I had dates for the upcoming support groups and appointments for massage, Reiki, therapeutic touch ad polarity. I was still sick, but I was no longer frightened or confused and I was no longer alone.”
The Center offers speakers and workshops form prominent physicians and oncology healthcare professionals on many topics regarding cancer. They offer nutrition information, and have counseling and support groups for children, patients, and their family and friends.
Ellen Cleary, a licensed Clinical Counselor, has worked at Stewart’s for three years.
“This place is a real safe haven,” she said. “And everything is free. That is a part of our mission statement. I hold an independent license, but here, I don’t have to deal with insurance agencies.
When someone has cancer, they are not going to get very many sessions, where here, they can come as often as they need to come. There are no barriers to service. I don’t want anyone to think they can’t come because they can’t pay.”
Ellen leads their breast cancer support group which is their largest group. They also have ovarian, prostate for men, blood cancer support groups, and others.
The agency has a wig room.
“When you lose your hair,” Boner said, “it is a hardship because a wig costs a lot of money. You are already devastated and that is just another expense.”
The wigs, hats and scarves have been professionally cleaned and donated. Anyone is welcome to come, sit in front of their private vanity mirror, try them on and have one.
“They have a Look Good, Feel Better Program,” Boner explained. “When you lose your hair, you lose your eyebrows, you lose everything. They have artists that come in and show how to put makeup on.”
They have yoga, foot reflexology, and many other relaxation and healing classes. They offer Lebed which is a non-impact exercise that was developed by a woman with breast cancer. The exercise helps with range of motion and lymph drainage.
The center has an American Cancer Society Advocate and their library is considered the regional library for the American Cancer Society.
As well as children’s therapy, they run a summer camp in June. A little boy, named Matthew, stated, “Stewart’s Caring Place helped me to know not to be sad about mom because there are other kids just like me.”
Interim Development Director, Elaine Neumann, was one of the original founders of the organization. She was friends with Dr. Stewart Surloff and his wife. Stewart died of cancer in 2001, and Mimi wanted to reach the cancer community. She, and a few friends, sat around a kitchen table and discussed options. “We started off thinking we would have a little facility with a little support,” Neumann explained. “None of us imagined that we would be like this.”
They opened their doors in 2004 and operate an 8000-square-foot facility in the plaza at Miller and W. Market, in Fairlawn.
Neumann is deeply touched by the people they help. “There is a woman, I think of her every day. It makes me cry when I think of her. She is this cute little lady. She says, ‘I don’t know what I would do without my Stewart’s.’”
Stewart’s is coming further south for their fundraiser. They are having their Sixth Annual Gala Celebration at Merestead Farms, on 619, in Portage Lakes. The event is on July 18 with live music and oral and silent auctions. Five-hundred people are expected to attend. It is $175 a ticket. Beau’s, at the Hilton in Fairlawn, is doing the food.
The people at Merestead Farms, “are so happy to have us,” Gala Chair, Jodi Morris, stated.
“They are so into it and so involved. Mayor Norton is being so supportive and has sent out many letters. We are getting sponsorships from that area.”
“This is such a great event,” she continued. “Every year, we have a different venue and a different theme.”
A Hope Walk took place in May and a Golf Classic is set for August. For more information about any of the events, volunteering, donating, or if you are someone who has been touched by cancer, contact Stewart’s at 330-836-1772 or go to www.stewartscaringplace.org. The address is 295 W. Market Street, Suite R, Akron 44333.
