the wellness community

by Bob Ferber

July 17, 1999, was one of the worst days of my life... or, at least, I thought so at the time. I was diagnosed with advanced chronic myologenous leukemia (CML). It seemed like a death sentence. I was scared, depressed, and alone. I immediately began conventional treatments that stopped working after only six months; I was also hospitalized for a week with excruciating, uncontrollable pain and was sure this was the end. My only option was a bone marrow transplant and only around 500 people of 20,000 patients find one each year. So, the statistics were grim, and I was struggling to maintain hope. It was at that time that I discovered the magic of The Wellness Community.

At first, the thought of participating in a group discussion with other cancer patients seemed to be the last thing I'd want to do. Why would I want to be surrounded by others facing death? How could that possibly lift my spirits and give me hope? I was already surrounded by well-meaning family and friends... but, I was beginning to realize that they just couldn't understand what I was going through and my sense of loneliness was even greater. Out of desperation, I began attending weekly Wellness Community meetings.

It took just a few minutes in the first session for me to begin to realize the unique support that The Wellness Community provides for cancer patients. In the first hour, I felt a connection with the other cancer patients that I felt with no one else. For the first time, I was with people who truly understood what I was experiencing, both physically and mentally. And, most surprising of all, people's stories of their battles with cancer were inspiring, rather than depressing. Those who were losing the battle showed strength of character and a desire to hold onto life; those who were winning the battle gave inspiration to the others. Instead of being jealous of participants who were doing well, I felt inspired -- if they can do it, then so can I! I later learned this myself when I was profiled in Time Magazine for my own success and worried that my Wellness family would be jealous of my winning the battle against leukemia. To the contrary, my support group loudly cheered and applauded my success and the stories written about it, reminding me what I had already learned -- that my success story was an inspiration for them to fight on...to not only beat the cancer, but to maintain a qualify of life that cancer can so often rob from us. I also discovered so much humor and laughter at the meetings...sometimes with tears of sadness, often with tears of joy...and sometimes just tears from being silly.

The Wellness Community became my home away from home, the place where I could be me with my cancer. I knew that whatever I was feeling or experiencing was OK with my fellow participants. It seems that whatever someone was struggling through, others in the group had their own experiences that lent support to those who were struggling. And the facilitators at The Wellness Community showed very special insight and compassion in leading and facilitating the discussions, while allowing the participants to be the driving force behind what we talked about...or didn't talk about.

My own story is one of true hope where there seems to be none. I was given a 60% chance of survival IF they were even able to find a donor for a much-needed bone marrow transplant. But, to my horror, I learned that I'd have to be away from my dogs and cats for up to a year or more! As an animal lover, rescuer and advocate whose entire life revolves around animal welfare, this was like a death sentence in itself...but I had no choice. (There was an experimental drug that was having limited success but I was told my disease was too advanced for that drug.)

The Wellness Community family helped me prepare for the inevitable, a very painful and brutal bone marrow transplant procedure, and the aftermath of being away from animals. But at the last moment, weeks before being scheduled for the transplant, I was given the choice of going on that experimental drug with the understanding that it would probably only extend my life for another three months. The doctors and my family strongly recommended that I choose the transplant over the untested drug. But, one day, my three-legged Shepherd, Trapper, who had lost his leg in an animal trap and had also been given seven years to live, came on my bed, put his stump around my shoulders and hugged me...and I heard him "tell" me that I could not leave the animals. I was on this earth for them, because of them. At that moment, I knew I had to risk taking the drug rather than lose my life with my animals. It wasn't just about staying alive, but living life on my terms. While so many of my friends and family couldn't understand or accept my decision, my Wellness family knew all too well what I was talking about...and supported me in my decision.

Miraculously, months went by and, as the doctors continued to predict the drug's failure, I kept getting better and better. That drug was supposed to work for a maximum of three months, but it kept working and working...and now, five full years later, I'm in full remission and without any effects from either the cancer or the medication. I have my life back and it's better than ever before. I work full time and have doubled my efforts to help animals, both through my job as a prosecutor of those who abuse animals and my rescuing of animals when not in court.

The Wellness Community was a critical part of my recovery from my first meeting over five years ago to today, when I now bring my special animals (including Trapper) to visit others at the community and remind them of what I had learned...that

there is always hope, and you can find that hope at the Wellness Community.