“Twenty years ago The Wellness Community was there for me . . . this is my opportunity to pay it forward.”

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© Bill Aron

Jill was diagnosed with breast cancer in 1987.  As a mother with two teenagers, this was a difficult period for her and her family.  She lost her hair during chemo and felt sick much of the time.  But these were just the physical symptoms; there were emotional ones as well.  Jill had a lot of anxiety not only about her own future, but also about her children’s.  She wondered if she would get to see them graduate, get married – all of the things that a mother hopes and wishes for her children. 

Jill felt that she needed help.  At the time, there was no other place besides The Wellness Community that offered emotional support for people with cancer.  Fortunately, TWC had been in the news because of the wonderful work it was doing.  Gilda Radner, the comedienne and actress who died of ovarian cancer in 1989, wrote in her book It’s Always Something about how much TWC meant to her, and this brought TWC even more into the spotlight.  Jill remembers meeting Gilda several times at the Community and found it inspiring to see a celebrity be so open and honest about her hopes and fears in such a public way.  

The Wellness Community provided Jill with a place to air her feelings and helped relieve her of her anxiety about the future.  Although it was hard to see that some people would not survive, it was inspiring to see that while they were alive, they were striving for the best quality of life possible.  Jill made it through her cancer treatment and continued with her life.

Jill was working in the entertainment industry when the tragic events of September 11, 2001 took place. Like many others at that time, Jill took stock of her life and she decided to follow through with a long-held intention to work with cancer patients. She went back to school to obtain a Master’s Degree in Psychology and a Marriage and Family Therapy license. She did an internship at TWC-WLA, and has stayed on as a staff facilitator and community outreach coordinator. 

As a cancer survivor and past participant, Jill feels that she brings her experience to those patients and family members who walk through the doors of TWC-WLA frightened and confused about what might happen to them.  Jill is living proof that there is a path through cancer and that you don’t have to walk it alone.  You can overcome your fears, live your life, and be there for your kids.  The Wellness Community gave Jill hope and inspiration, and she feels privileged to have the opportunity to “pay it forward” to others. 

Jill has been cancer free for 20 years.  “It feels like things have come full circle,” she says, “I can now help the organization that helped me all those years ago.”