Celebrate Life: Survivors' Day 2002
On Sunday June 9th, 2002, as the days turned
warmer and the sun's light lasted longer, the
Joan Karnell Cancer Center at Pennsylvania Hospital
joined the nation in celebrating not just the
warm glow of summer but also the persistence,
courage and determination of our cancer survivors.
Our doctors, nurses and staff joined together
with our patients to Celebrate Life, the theme
of this year's National Cancer Survivors
Day.
More than 500 survivors, families and staff
gathered in the historic Elm Garden to visit
with one another, share stories and most of all,
appreciate life. As survivors arrived, they were
invited to be part of “Woven Ribbons,” a
series of quilt patches signed by each survivor
that will be assembled into a complete quilt
and displayed at next year's Survivors
Day. The Moorestown Area Quilters are graciously
working on this quilt, whose pattern represents
the familar ribbon pins that are often used as
symbols of support for cancer patients.
While survivors signed quilt patches, children
at this year's picnic were entertained
by Judy-Tudy the Clown and Michigan the Frog
as they played and created crafts under the trees
in the garden.
Four of the physicians from the Joan Karnell
Cancer Center, Allen Barr, MD, Richard
Lackman, MD, Thomas
Randall, MD, and Joseph
Harryhill, MD, introduced our key-note speakers,who
are cancer survivors. These people reflected
on the challenges presented by their cancer diagnosis—the
ways cancer has resulted in both negative and
positive changes to their lives.As the program
continued, the Person-to-Person support group
received special recognition for its role in
helping match cancer survivors with newly diagnosed
patients.
Surrounded by beautiful weather and friends
and family enabled everyone to Celebrate Life.
Special thanks goes to the Joan Karnell Cancer
Center Survivors Day Committee, a team of more
than 50 people,who coordinated our Survivors
Day Celebration.
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