Mending Under the Moon

a women’s retreat funded by To Celebrate Life Breast Cancer Foundation

Article reprinted with permission from Marin General Hospital’s fall 2006 magazine “Your Health”

Some of the women took off their wigs; others removed their prostheses. A few were young, and others were decades older. Many laughed. Several danced. It was their weekend to be together. All of them had cancer — most of them had breast cancer. Some were still going through treatment. For the 49 women who attended the Marin Cancer Institute’s inaugural retreat in Sonoma in the spring of 2006, it was a time to share their cancer experiences, learn from one another and reflect on their lives with renewed hope.

Cindi Cantril, R.N., OCN, breast care coordinator at MCI, described the retreat as “a place for women to make a commitment to themselves. It allows them to connect with others in a safe place. We all need that.” It was Cantril’s idea to organize the Mending Under the Moon weekend to help women with cancer rediscover joy and hope in their lives. “This can be accomplished with access to more tools to empower them to meet the physical, emotional and spiritual challenges of cancer recovery,” she says.

The retreat featured workshops, discussion groups, resource information, and tools for surviving and thriving. “It’s important for these women to take time away, to be together, and to realize that there is always someone who is doing better and worse than they are,” Cantril says. The second annual retreat was held in March 2007. Next year’s retreat is scheduled for April 18-20. For more information, call Cantril at 925-6327.

Here are some words of appreciation we received from those attending:

Thank you for the GIFT of attending this retreat. Wonderful, wonderful program! Wonderful place, wonderful experience. Thank you for enabling me to attend. What a gift! – Erin

Thank you so much for giving me the opportunity to participate. It has been such an uplifting, life-changing experience! It was wonderful being in a safe setting where we felt OK to ask questions, get up-to-date information, as well as to have the time to enjoy each other through art and dance. Cindy and Diane are amazing! Thank you. –Angie

Thank you for sponsoring Mending Under The Moon. It was wonderful and just what the doctor ordered. A time to rejuvenate. – Kimberly

What a well thought-out program. The leadership was superb and it was clear that all the participants gleaned a great deal of information as well as having a delightful time (and so well-fed). Thank you so much for this opportunity. – Cheryl

Thank you for the abundance such a gathering brings to all participants. We fin some serenity, lots of joy, so much sharing with each other: friends new and old. Love and compassion rule at these events – Mille Grazie! — Diana