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Support and healing found at centre in Ladner

Ladner cancer survivor can't say enough good things about a life-changing place close to home
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Ladner resident Lori Kaake found love and support at Delta Hospice Society’s Harold and Veronica Savage Centre for Supportive Care after she was diagnosed with stage four pancreatic cancer.

The moment you walk inside the doors of the Harold and Veronica Savage Centre for Supportive Care you feel a warm and inviting space.

It's a place to share, to learn and to heal.

Operated by the Delta Hospice Society, the centre is next door to the Irene Thomas Hospice in Ladner's civic precinct, serving as the society's community outreach for all who live in Delta.

The centre offers information, resources, counselling, complementary therapies, respite and companioning through the often painful journey of illness or bereavement.

For Ladner resident Lori Kaake, it's been a lifechanging place.

Kaake was diagnosed with stage four pancreatic cancer in 2011. After spending four months in hospital and beginning her recovery at home, she said it was a struggle.

"With chemotherapy comes depression often and I became very depressed. I was desperate for some support," Kaake said. "My doctor happened to call me to check up on me and we got talking and she suggested this place. I knew about hospice as my mother inlaw was there and passed away actually just a month before my diagnosis, but I had no idea that this centre existed. My doctor reached out for me and the next day I was contacted by a counsellor here and so began my journey of healing."

Kaake said the support has been a wellspring of love and life.

"I really value everyone here, all the volunteers, the acceptance you receive and the peace you feel. When I leave here I always feel better than when I came, so that is so important, especially when you are sick," she said.

"It's wonderful to have this kind of support available in your community. I could have gone to Vancouver, but I was just too tired and too sick, so to have this support system here, well, let's just say we are so fortunate to have a place like this. It's a jewel."

Kaake is in remission and is well on her way to recovery, but still visits the centre twice a week for therapeutic touch, restorative yoga and the cancer support group.

"When I first started coming in it was for counselling. There were some real dark days, mental challenges and well as physical challenges," she recalled. "The peace of mind that the counsellors helped me find has been life changing."

Delta Hospice Society executive director Nancy Macey said she hopes by sharing Kaake's story more residents will utilize the free support services offered.

"Our idea is to give people hope, a feeling of well being, help them understand their illness, so they can access resources and support, counselling," said Macey.

"When someone is ill, it has huge impacts on a family, so it's important that the family has ways to get support too. It's a place to come and just be and if they have the energy to talk that's great and if they don't then that's OK too.

"While we are not the doctors trying to find a cure or provide the medicine, it's the whole social and spiritual piece of it that we support. I think there are so many people out there in the community that have no idea that we exist. We have this amazing space, great volunteers and staff who want to be here to provide any support that is needed."

To find out more about the programs and services offered, call 604-948-0660 or visit www.deltahospice.org.