Alejandra Mendez, Vice President of Childhood Cancer International and one of the 100 Influential Women in Oncology in 2025 by OncoDaily, shared a post on LinkedIn:
“When you are living through cancer, life often feels heavy.
Stress accumulates. Exhaustion takes over. Fear, uncertainty, and moments of hopelessness can fill every corner of your day. These are times of deep physical and emotional fatigue — for patients and for the families walking beside them. In those moments, something as simple as spending a few minutes in a healing garden can make a profound difference.
A quiet space. Surrounded by nature. Stillness, peace, and calm. A place to breathe again. To rest. To cry. To pray, meditate, or simply be.
My family and I were incredibly fortunate to have access to the Healing Garden at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute at Boston Children’s Hospital. It became a sanctuary during one of the most challenging periods of our lives — a place where healing didn’t come only from medicine, but from silence, greenery, and human connection. We will be forever grateful for that space.
Healing gardens are not a luxury. They are a therapeutic tool. They support emotional wellbeing, reduce stress, and offer dignity and comfort when it is most needed. Let’s advocate for more healing gardens in cancer centers around the world — for patients, families, and healthcare teams who all deserve spaces of peace, reflection, and hope.
Because healing is not only about surviving — it is also about how we are supported along the way.”
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