wingspanhelping cancer patients

UPCOMING EVENT

Volume 1 : Issue 2 April 2013

The Healing Effects of Acupunctureby Shohreh Doustani, M.S., L.Ac., Dip O.M.

I clearly remember the day when Laura walked into my office for her first acupuncture visit, quite disconcerted. Laura was undergoing an intense chemotherapy treatment for her advanced stage of cancer. [continued on page 7]

Volunteer Spotlight: Kaitlin GallagherIn 2011, Kaitlin was a 10th grader at Amador Valley High School—an average student, a pitcher on the softball team, a normal kid in almost every sense—when she and her family discovered she had stage 4 Lymphoblastic Leukemia. What sounded like a death sentence at the time turned out to be a game changer for Kaitlin. [continued on page 9]

Healing Hands: Cancer Survivor Inspired to HelpIt’s not unusual for cancer survivors, moved by the care they received, to reach out and help others facing diagnosis and treatment. This can be said for Deb Cardella, a breast cancer survivor and Sandra J. Wing Healing Therapies grant recipient. [continued on page 8]

JUNE

12

Sheila Cunha and Jeannie Reitzell get in the Mardi Gras spirit!

The 21st Annual Celebration of Life for cancer patients, cancer survivors, and caregivers will be held on Wednesday,

June 12 at FAZ restaurant in Pleasanton. Nationally acclaimed motivational speaker and satirist Michael Pritchard will be the guest speaker. The event is free, but preregistration is required. Watch your email or view our Facebook posting for additional information and RSVP details.

Ragin Cajun 2013 Recap!In Louisiana, the term lagniappe (lan-yap) is a widely used Cajun

expression meaning a little something extra—think baker’s dozen. The expression is also a fitting word to sum up this year’s Ragin Cajun, the 5th annual Mardi Gras-themed gala of the Sandra J. Wing Healing Therapies Foundation. As the Foundation’s primary fundraising event, Ragin Cajun is a festive way for sponsors and the community to ‘give a little something

extra’ to cancer patients in the Tri-Valley. [continued on page 4]

page 2 www.healingtherapiesfoundation.org

Letter from Sandra

Sandra J. WingBoard Chair &

President

Debra DobleTreasurer

Tina OnderbekeSecretary

Rakesh PatelDirector

Donna GarrisonDirector

Kim OttDirector

David RekartDirector

Michael ForrestDirector

Hector MoranDirector

Dear Wingspan Readers,

Our annual fundraising event, Ragin Cajun, was held on March 8, 2013.

It was a stellar evening! My heartfelt gratitude goes out to everyone who

contributed to the success of the event. Thank you to those who attended, as

we obviously can’t have a fun and engaging event without you! Your enthu-

siasm and support year after year is so amazing and so appreciated. Thank

you to our incredible sponsors whose financial support is wonderfully

generous. Thank you also, to all those who donated items towards our live

and silent auctions. And, last but not least, a big thank you to our incred-

ible, tireless Ragin Cajun volunteers. The Ragin Cajun volunteers work all

year long in the planning and preparation of this event. With your help, we

raised $85,000 this year! The funds raised go directly to cancer patients in

our community and they need our help. Ragin Cajun couldn’t be a success

without an entire community’s support and on behalf of the Board of Direc-

tors we applaud you and truly can’t thank you enough.

Speaking of volunteers, one of our youngest volunteers is featured in this

issue of Wingspan. Her name is Kaitlin Gallagher, and I know after reading

her interview you will be touched by her drive and commitment. Her inter-

view is on page 9.

Another article you’re sure to find compelling regards one of our beneficia-

ries. Her amazing experience with complementary therapies inspired her to

reconnect with an important part of her life that was missing. See page 8 for

Deb Cardella’s intriguing story.

Can you believe the Ragin Cajun committee members are already in motion

for next year?! Please mark your calendars for Friday, March 7, 2014, as our

6th Annual Ragin Cajun will be in a new location—Casa Real in Pleasan-

ton. It will, no doubt, be spectacular.

Warmest Regards,

Sandra Wing

Board ofDirectors

‘‘ ‘‘Ragin Cajun couldn’t be a success

without an entire community’s

support.

1-866-862-7270 page 3

MANY THANKS FOR YOUR SUPPORT!

The Premier Bay Area Community Bank

Residential and Commercial Lending

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Proud to Support the Sandra J. WingHealing Therapies Foundation

(800) 359-BANK (2265)www.fremontbank.com

www.fb.com/fremontbank

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We couldn’t doit without you!

page 4 www.healingtherapiesfoundation.org

continued from page 1In this same vein, attendees of the 2013 Ragin Cajun, held at the Palm Event Center on Friday, March 8, were treated to a little something extra as well. Not only were the 320+ guests regaled with jazz music and a festive atmosphere be-fitting any New Orleans Fat Tues-day-themed fête, but they also relished in a lively cocktail hour, a delicious Mardi Gras-inspired dinner that would make Emeril proud and an arcade-style photo booth churning out snapshot momentos of an evening surely to be remembered. Silent and live auctions, a heart-warming slide show presentation, an inspiring oration by cancer survivor and beneficiary Tony Matthews and high-spirited dancing with music provided by Brad Kinney productions rounded out the evening.

“Not only is Ragin Cajun an enjoyable way to support such a worthy cause, but it’s also a kick-a** good time,” exclaimed four-time attendee and silent auction donor Dora Hamilton. “My husband Jim and I have attended a fair share of charity galas in our lifetime, and we can say, hands down, Ragin Cajun is the most fun. When we attend Ragin Cajun we feel like we’re not just helping the Foundation, we’re helping our community.” Jim and Dora also have the distinction of being winning bidders of the Ragin Cajun cake auction for three-years running.

The evening’s mistress of ceremony was NBC Bay Area news anchor and local

RaginCajun

& DANCE

DINNER Pleasanton resident, Jessica Aguirre. Speaking from the heart, Aguirre recounted her father’s own battle with cancer, speculating how much easier his fight might have been had he had access to complementary therapies like those

provided to Tri-Valley cancer patients by the Foundation.

Aguirre generously donated an NBC Experience package which included a behind the scenes NBC studios tour and live taping of the 6PM news. In addition to her own

item, she assisted auctioneer Rick Palmieri garner

bids for other live auction items including a Cajun dinner with Judge Ron Hyde, a Golf Package at Castlewood, Crow Canyon and Oakhurst golf courses, a St. Helena Winery and Sonoma Raceway package, and a gourmet dinner for 8 guests served by the Sandra J. Wing Healing Therapies Foundation board.

By far, the biggest live auction item of the evening was the Football Viewing Party at Goal

Line Studio donated by the Madden family. The winning bidder will enjoy a catered party for eight at Goal Line Studio. The Football Viewing Party may have been the big auction item of the evening, but the Foundation’s benefi-ciaries were the real winners of the night. All toll, the 2013 Ragin Cajun raised more than $85,000.

The evening’s Mistress of Ceremony, Jessica Aguirre

The Sandra J. Wing Healing Therapies Foundation

board is ready to serve a gourmet dinner!

Ragin Cajun 2013 Recap!

1-866-862-7270 page 5

Ger

i Ara

ta

Sandra Wing, second from the right, is joined by the board of the Sandra J. Wing Healing Therapies Foundation. From left: Michael Forrest, Tina Onderbeke, Donna Garrison, Debra Doble, Hector Moran, Kim Ott, Rakesh Patel, Sandra, David Rekart

Bedecked in feather boas, the Worgull family enjoy an evening of revelry Ragin Cajun-style

Sandra with former Mayor Hosterman and Gina Channell-Allen

Winning bidder of the Football Viewing Party, Michael Miller

Ragin Cajun enjoyed the support of

Epic Care and Striking Web

Four year Ragin Cajun attendees and cake auction winners, Dora and Jim Hamilton

Healing Therapies beneficiary speaker and

cancer survivor Tony Mathews is joined by his wife Susan, Gina Piper, and Jennifer Wheeler

page 6 www.healingtherapiesfoundation.org

WINGTIPS

Foundation Endowed with Hindu Community Center GrantIn a ceremony on March 23rd, the Sandra J. Wing Healing Therapies Foundation was bestowed a grant from the Livermore-based Hindu Community and Cultural Center (HCCC). The Grant-in-Aid ceremony is an annual event, held at the Shiva-Vishnu Temple in Springtown, during which $30,000 is awarded to dozens of local humanitarian organizations.

Explaining HCCC’s Grant-in-Aid mission, Anand Gundu, HCCC Board of Directors member remarked, “Our Human Services Committee believes that service to mankind is

service to God. With this motto, we would like to serve the community. Since we can’t reach everyone everywhere, we believe giving to orga-nizations that touch humanity is the best way to reach out to the community at large.”

Hina Saiya, a Grant Writing Committee volunteer, accepted the $500 grant for the Foundation. “By giving back to their local community, HCCC shows its support and follows its ideals of encouraging human services work,” said Saiya. The grant will help provide complementary therapies for Tri-Valley cancer patients undergoing treatment.

FASS™: A powerful formula for combating transient taste change during cancer treatment from the cookbook The Cancer Fighting Kitchen, by Rebecca KatzThe FASS (Fat, Acid, Salt, and Sweet) formula developed by Rebecca Katz addresses the “transient taste change” people experience when they go through cancer treatment. Some people express that during chemo they have a “metallic” taste in their mouth, for instance. Fortunately, the change is usually temporary. Following the FASS formula can be helpful for those coping with abnormal tastes.

Fat = Olive Oil, lays the foundation for our mouths to sense flavors

Acid = Lemons and limes, draws out and brightens flavors

Salt = Sea Salt, the taste bud equivalent of TNT helps flavor explode on the palette

Sweet = Grade B organic maple syrup, more potent to the taste buds than Grade A maple syrup and sugar

This is how it works . . . if your taste buds are saying (fill in the blank with choices below), use this FASS fix. If things taste:

Metallic: Add a little sweetener, like maple syrup or agave nectar, and a squeeze of lemon. You could also try adding fat, such as a nut cream or butter.

Too sweet: Start by adding 6 drops of lemon or lime juice. Keep adding it in small incre-ments until the sweet taste becomes muted.

Too salty: Add ¼ teaspoon of lemon juice. It erases the taste of salt.

Too bitter: Add a little sweetener, like maple syrup or agave nectar.

Like cardboard: Add more sea salt until the flavor of the dish moves toward the front of the mouth. A spritz of fresh lemon juice also helps.

1-866-862-7270 page 7

The Healing Effects of Acupuncture on Cancer Patients continued from page 1by Shohreh Doustani, M.S., L.Ac., Dip O.M.

Due to severe neuropathy, she could not even turn the key in the ignition to turn her car off. When she walked into my office, she asked me if I could go down to the parking lot to help her turn her car off. It was clear that the pain she was going through was quite troublesome.

Laura loved playing the flute and going hiking, however, the neuropathy in her hands and feet prevented her from continuing her hobbies. She was earnestly looking for my help to reduce the painful conditions, so she could return to a normal life.

Acupuncture alleviated the pain and discomfort associated with her chemo treatment and also lessened her neuropathy. A few months into her treatment, she picked up her flute again and started playing professionally in the orchestra she belonged to. Within six months of her first acupuncture treatment, she booked a walking trip to Italy where she hiked about 100 miles from Inn to Inn.

Laura was joyful again as she was back to her usual activities.

MD Anderson Cancer Center and Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center are respected as the top two cancer centers in the nation. Both centers consider complementary therapies such as acupuncture and acupressure as having important roles in treating patients who are undergoing chemotherapy.

Studies done in China as well as the US have shown that regular acupuncture treatments for patients who are undergoing chemotherapy would improve their blood counts, help with their anxiety, nausea, dry mouth, pain and neu-ropathy associated with chemotherapy. Overall, acupuncture improves the quality of life of these patients.

While many patients may find acupuncture effective in treating their chemo-inflicted symp-toms, some do not. Patients who try acupunc-ture for the first time need to be mindful of the fact that acupuncture’s effectiveness could vary for every individual.

Therapeutic effects of acupuncture are cumula-tive. Therefore, it is important to expect a slow, yet focused healing process. That is, each course of treatment usually consists of six to eight visits. However, in severe conditions more than one course of treatment may be needed.

In my nearly a decade of practice as an acupuncturist and herbalist, I have witnessed the important role that acupuncture plays in the healing process of cancer patients. It is so rewarding to give the joy of life to our patients by making it possible for them to do what they love to do most.Shohreh Doustani has a Master’s degree in Oriental Medicine and is a certified Reiki master. Her private practice, Acupuncture Center, is located in Danville. Her web address is www.shohrehdoustani.com.

Wingspan contributor and Foundation service provider

Shohreh Doustani

page 8 www.healingtherapiesfoundation.org

Healing Hands: Cancer Survivor Inspired to Help Otherscontinued from page 1In October of last year, Deb was diagnosed with stage 1 breast cancer. Within two weeks of having a partial mastectomy she was sent to Valley Medical Oncology Consultants (VMOC) in Pleasanton to begin brachytherapy, a faster form of radiation therapy than conventional radiation treatment, with Dr. Patel. It was at VMOC that she learned of the grants for complementary therapies offered by Sandra J. Wing Healing Therapies Founda-tion.

“Dr. Patel’s nurse told me about the Foundation and signed me up. She filled out all the paperwork and faxed it over that same day,” revealed Deb. Dr. Patel is on the board for the Sandra J. Wing Healing Therapies Foundation.

Ironically, Deb was also an erstwhile mas-sage therapist. She left the practice when her last employer, a day spa in Pleasanton, closed down. “It’s hard work,” explained Deb. When I heard that massage therapy was available to me through the Foundation, I thought it would be a wonderful opportunity to reconnect with all my [massage therapy] sisters, and I was looking forward to trying some new things.”

Upon receiving her grant from the Founda-tion, Deb sought the help of Kathleen Beaulieu, C.M.T., I.M.T., at Pleasanton Family Wellness Center. “Two weeks after radiation therapy I felt like I was hit by a Mack truck; I was run-down, total lethargy and was achy everywhere, explained Deb. Kathleen absolutely helped me in my healing. At first, she started out very lightly, but as I healed she went in a little deeper and gave me exactly what I needed.”

Deb also found relief from another Healing Therapies practitioner, Gina Moore of Tender Loving Care Massage Therapy. “Gina’s massage was so nurturing, so compassionate, so warm;

Gina is so in my heart. That’s when I knew that I needed to get back into massage therapy. I knew I could help others and relate to others like I was helped.”

After finishing treatment, Deb, a certified massage therapist since 1983, approached Gina about working with her, and Gina agreed to take her on. She now works out of Gina’s office

in Pleasanton two days a week—Thursdays and Sundays—under the business name Knead to Relax. “To be in this work, you have to be selfless. You have to be giving. I really missed massage; it was a part of my life that was missing.”

In her quest to help other cancer patients, Deb now has plans to get certified

in oncology massage. “Kathleen and Gina were such blessings in my life. Finding these ladies who do such wonderful, healing work made me want to reconnect with that part of myself and give back the gift that I received.” She also hopes someday to become a Sandra J. Wing Healing Therapies practitioner.

“I really felt fortunate to have the gift [of healing therapies]. I am so grateful to all my doctors, especially Dr. Wynn, who made the situation more bearable with humor and lighthearted-ness, and Dr. Patel and their amazing staff. Also, to Kathleen and Gina whose compassion and tenderness helps patients get through their fears and pain.”

For more information about Gina Moore or Kathleen Beaulieu, you can find their contact info at the Healing Therapies website, heal-ingtherapiesfoundation.org/service-provider. To contact Deb Cardella at Knead to Relax, call (925) 413-9006 or email her at debcardella@gmail.com.

"Finding these ladies who do such wonderful, healing work made me want to reconnect with that part of myself and give back the gift that

I received."

1-866-862-7270 page 9

Volunteer Spotlight: A Conversation with Kaitlin GallagherBy Jennifer Hines

continued from page 1After finishing treatment, she committed to giving back and has devoted her young life to volunteering for organizations that help cancer patients, including the Sandra J. Wing Healing Therapies Foundation. I’m happy to report Kaitlin is now a senior at Amador, in full remission and looking forward to the next phase in her life. Below is an excerpt from an interview we had with her in April 2013. To read the entire interview, please visit our website at http://www.healingtherapiesfounda-tion.org/Volunteer-Spotlight.

Wingspan: Life has dealt you some really pretty tough blows at such a young age. Do you have anyone who inspires you?KG: I do. I have a lot. I would have to say two people, though. One’s my mom. I mean for her to go through my thing [my cancer] and then to go through her thing [her cancer ]knowing that she still has this different thing to deal with, you know? And, also I’d say my kindergarten teacher. I didn’t talk until I was 7, so, all through her class I didn’t talk; I would just stay in class all day, seriously, and she just bonded with me. Whenever I would go visit her she would have a picture of me in her wallet. I would only talk to her. But then she had to leave school because she was diagnosed with cancer. Then, when I got sick, she reached out to me. She sent me a picture of her with no hair. It was a black and white portrait and it was such an inspiration to me. She’s still fighting her cancer, I don’t think it will ever go away. But, I have so many inspirations in my life. I would say my best friends are probably my inspirations, too. My boyfriend Cody and my two friends who started the cancer club, Alexis and Jaime, those three inspired me.

Wingspan: You and your family go to St. Augustine in Pleasanton. What role has faith played in your recovery?KG: It played a huge role. Thank God for our church community. Seriously, they have done so much. My church community is my other inspiration. I don’t even know all of them and

some of them would just send me stuff to let me know they were thinking of me. There was a mass at my church for me, the priest would say my name for the heal-ing of the sick; a lot of people just kept hearing my name.

Wingspan: Did you find yourself praying more?KG: Yeah, and when I was upset, you know, I knew I could use prayer to get me through. I know now that everything happens for a reason and that God doesn’t do something unless he knows that you can handle it. I think he put me in this situation because he knew I could handle it and every-body around me. I think Cody coming in to my life was a part of that. He’s part of my church; we were both confirmed when I was sick. It’s just weird how everything works out like it’s part of God’s plan. People always think I’m so strong, but I definitely have my doubts. Late at night, the emotions would come and I would just start crying. A lot of times Cody would reassure me, he would just talk me down and remind me that every-thing was going to be okay, that it’s part of God’s plan.

Wingspan: You volunteer for a lot of organizations now, in-cluding Sandra J. Wing Healing Therapies Foundation. How did you find out about the Foundation and why did you decide to help us?KG: The priest at our church got a table at Ragin Cajun last year and we were invited to be his dinner guests. We were both like, “Whoa, this is so cool!” My mom had signed us up to volunteer for the clean up crew just so we could see what kind of organization this is. So we stayed

(continued on page 10)

page 10 www.healingtherapiesfoundation.org

Kohl’s Cares . . . about the Sandra J. Wing Healing Therapies Foundation!Five Kohl’s Associates from the Pleasanton location volunteered their personal time at the 2013 Ragin’ Cajun event. Through the Kohl’s Cares Associates in Action volun-teer program, Kohl’s provided a $500 grant that will be specifically directed to a youth receiving healing therapies from the foun-dation. Thanks to Kohl’s and their belief that everybody has the ability to make a difference! We look forward to seeing their Associates at next years’ event.

To read more about the Kohl’s Cares Grants and the Associates in Action Volunteer Pro-gram, please visit:

http://www.kohlscorporation.com/Commu-nityRelations/Community04.htm.

Volunteer Opportunities

“The best way to find yourself is to lose yourself in the service of others.” —Ghandi

If you love helping others and working side by side with fun, thoughtful and inspiring people, our Foundation can use your help. Lend your professional skills and talents to help cancer patients in the Tri-Valley. We’re looking for volunteers to help in the following committees:

1. Grants Applications/Grant Writers2. Ambassadors—distribute our brochures

to hospitals, doctors’ offices and businesses in the cities we serve.

3. Newsletter writers4. Photographers

For more information, contact volunteer coordinator Gracie Santos at (866) 862-7270 or htinfo@healingtherapiesfoundation.org.

Kaitlin Gallagher continued from page 9cleaning up that night until the very last minute, and then we both just sensed we would be helping out at Ragin Cajun again. We hadn’t heard of the Foundation before that, so I didn’t know about them or the complementary ther-apies they provide. Now, I don’t even have a job because I’m so busy with volunteering. You know, I don’t get paid for volunteer work, but I get “paid” more with volunteer work than I do with a job.

Wingspan: What did you think of Ragin Cajun?KG: It was so much fun. It was fun! It was just a way to let it all go for the night. It was a feel good evening and it’s a good way to raise money. Everybody wants to be there, they want to give back so that’s a good way to do it. I didn’t get a chance to have any of the complementary ther-apies and that’s okay; I really didn’t need them.

Wingspan: You volunteered at Ragin Cajun again this year and you also got your cancer club friends to volunteer there as well.

KG: Yeah, that was fun. They loved it. It’s a good event, whether you’re a beneficiary or not.

Wingspan: If you could offer one piece of advice to other young people going through cancer, what would it be?KG: Oh gosh! I think it’s important to remem-ber that you’re young and strong and that it’s such a short period of time and you have so much more life to live that it’s so worth the fight, and it’s worth not giving up and not being sad over something that is only going to con-sume so little of your young life. Just don’t give up, stay as strong as possible. I honestly think if I didn’t have the attitude I have, I would be de-feated, too. I’m living proof that staying positive will definitely save you. So, staying positive and staying strong, yeah.

To read the entire interview with Kaitlin Gallagher, please visit http://www.healingthera-piesfoundation.org/Volunteer-Spotlight.

1-866-862-7270 page 11

Inaugural Reception Honors Beneficiaries

Gracie Santos, Tina Onderbeke, and Patricia Gadison

Some of our beneficiaries at the event.

Sandra Wing, Joann Statt, Pamela Dietrich, and Olivia

Helping cancer patients is not only the tag line of the Sandra J. Wing Healing Therapies Foundation, it’s also the core of our mission. Everything we do is for cancer patients in the Tri-Valley—our most cherished beneficiaries. They are brave, strong, resilient fighters. So, we honor them, and honor them we did.

Current and alumni beneficiaries were our guests of honor on February 7, 2013, at Coco Cabana Restaurant in Dublin. Sixty guests attended the first, of what we hope will be many, beneficiary reception and noshed on appetizers and sipped wine, courtesy of Safeway and John Evan. Board mem-bers and care committee volunteers mingled with beneficiaries, shared stories and inspiration as they reflected on the highlights and hardships of the past year.

Many thanks go out to the owners of Coco Cabana Restaurant, Safeway and John Evan for their generous contri-butions in making this memorable evening happen for our deserving beneficiaries.

Board member Kim Ott, Sylvia Desin

and Susanne Breckeridge

Randy Reid, Ramona Percelle, Vicki Grant, and Lori Reid

Danae Dillmann, Ana Gooco, and Carol Worgull

page 12 www.healingtherapiesfoundation.org

Special Thanks to Our Wonderful Donors!Charitable contributions are a significant part of the Foundation’s community support. We extend our heartfelt thanks and gratitude to all the individuals, businesses, organizations and foundations whose investment in our efforts has allowed us to provide immediate relief to people living with cancer in the Tri-Valley. Without these friends of the Foundation and their generous contributions, we could not have accomplished all that we did!

Donations from January 1, 2012 through December 31, 2012. (Those who have donated after 12/31/12 will be acknowledged in a future issue of Wingspan.)

We apologize for any errors or omissions in our list — please let us know and we will amend our records: htinfo@healingtherapiesfoundation.org.

$5,000 +McKesson FoundationPacific Transformer Corp.TVCFValley Medical OncologySandra Wing & Gracie Santos

$4,000 to $4,999Rakesh & Rachana Patel Rishi Sawhey

$3,000 to $3,999CMG Mortgage, Inc.Michael Miller Palm Event CenterJudy & William SherryElja SommerfieldSunshine Polka-Dot Foundation

$2,500 to $2,999 Diane R BerryDowd & Guild, Inc.Madden CharitiesScott & Sonja McLendon

$2,000 to $2,499Fremont BankDavid Rekart

$1,500 to $1,999Don & Jennifer Davis Debra Doble Jim & Ellen Gould Heritage Bank of CommerceTina OnderbekePeet’s Coffee and TeaVidya RangachariRodney SilveiraHelen C. SmithCory & Mary StarrDebbie & Wally St. JohnPhil StobTakeda PharmaceuticalsTenet Healthcare CorporationJim & Kelly L. Totten

$1,000 to $1,499Deanna ArmarioHugh & Carol BerryDennis & Denise ColvinDean EdwardsDonna & David GarrisonLori MancusoSilicon Valley Community Foundation

$500 to $999Patricia Bonasera, in Memory of Chuck BonaseraMJ BouthillierKatie BrunnerCatholic Community of PleasantonCivic Center Station OfficesBill ConwayMyles D. CrandallDave & Fran CunninghamKarl DetweilerDiablo Valley Young ExecutivesEmmett W. MacCorkle, Inc.Oswaldo FilhoAndrew GreenwellWesley & Elizabeth GoldsteinJim HamiltonLaren HirstAnnette KennyKiran KaurKirk Chiropractic Inc.Barry & Barbara McCandlessMarilyn McGillRick & Kathy MorenoPackage All CorpBimal PatelNancy PereydaYuki L. PersonPhysical Therapy SpecialtiesAndrew RobertsJoe SasekSusan Schall

Angela SessionsMichael SheppMichael J. SophieDavid & Kathleen SpillerSt. Clare’s Episcopal ChurchJeri StarkLee TechelBruce Theil & Karen FerrieraKimberle UgarteDale VaccarelloKimly Vu

$250 to $499Lon E. AlbertsSue BockMike & Kristine BuckleySherrill CodyKaren & John CooperWesley & Vanessa CottonFidelity Charitable Gift FundFleet Feet SportsPaula FoerschlerDavid Gerlach, in Memory of Carrie MarsalaGlobal ImpactSteve GouigJames H. GulsethEileen HammRenee S. HilliardJess HoffmanLeslie HoffmeyerRobert & Eleanor Holly, in Memory of Doris Holly

1-866-862-7270 page 13

Renee HuberJeffrey JimenezJoyce Feldman Insurance AgencyMike KammermeyerLisa LagorioMichael LaMarcheJoe LaPlacaDee MadhavpeddiEric P. MartinDiane MartinezSusan C. MathewsMichael Brandon & Shannon McBeeMike McLaughlinBrenda D. McNabbJanet S. MitchellMurline J. MonatAnne MoselleJeffrey NewtonKenneth NussbaumJoseph OrlandoKim OttRichard & Kim PacePleasanton Properties Real Estate Inc.Qylur Security Systems, Inc., in Memory of Carrie MarsalaRenee RobertsAlan Vargo & Christine RosiSandra Marie RyanHina SaiyaSallmann Yang & AlamedaJerry & Kim SanchezSan Ramon Custom Care PharmacyMichael P. ScarpelliTracy SelmerSFBAIA Inc.Greg SkinnerGreg SprattoTiffany StuartSutter East Bay HospitalsKurt B. Thompson

Valley Real Estate NetworkVHM Health Foods, Inc.Roxane WittmayerJames ZarrilloZentner Consulting

$100 to $249Charles & Kathryn AbneyPamela Ackel, in honor of Bernie GisvoldMara Joanne & Richard Amsbaugh, in Honor of Jean Goldman and Suzanne AzizAnonymousAsbury UMCKaren BartholomewLeonard S. BeckerJeffrey K. BehringPeter Benham, in Memory of Doris HollyOlivier & Angela BrandJacqueline BowmanAllison L BrownColleen J. ClementDagmar Kuhn CabreraLucianna CambraK. CatanhoJanet Clarke, in Memory of Carrie MarsalaHeidi CluteSharon C. CostelloDean Devlin, in Memory of Carrie MarsalaDave DevlinJoyce A. EllebrechtDeborah S. FallsCheryl D. FarberDonna Farmer, in Memory of Peter WongMark FarrellyMarjorie Fine, in Memory of Doris HollyFrances FitzgeraldRichard & Carolyn Galeone, in Memory of Peter Wong

Kevin GallagerRich Goudis, in Memory of Doris HollyMarsha Ranieri GouigPatricia GreenScott GregersonMichael D. GuerreroJim & Dana GulsethErik Hall & Vivivan WangDora HamiltonMichael HarmuthKathleen Hart-HinekBruce A. Harvey, in Memory of Doris HollySusan HayesKathleen HeimannKelli M. HinzShirley Holly, in Memory of Doris HollyElaine D HortonTze K. JoeMichele Johnson, in Memory of Carrie MarsalaMike and Chelli KammermeyerMike & Terese Kane, in Memory of Carrie MarsalaK.A.S.E.M. Inc. dba The UPS StoreDoris KinsleyJustin M. KunzJason M. Kwok, in Memory of Peter WongPhillip La CorteJennifer LarsonStacy LasaterSteve Lester, in Memory of Doris HollyMoises MacielAnnestelle M. MaesStephen R. ManningDiane Dunlap MartinezEvelyn MartinezJames MartinezLance MendesMichele MendesMission Hills Endodontics

Hector Moran, Jr.Karen M. MuddJeffrey A. NobleNorCal Chevelle/CaminosLori NovickMarsha PadlogBirgitta ParsehRommel ParsehMargaret PazirandehKen PerinePam PicazoPleasanton Family Wellness CenterKavitha Pandy RajMark ReichenbackDouglas & Teresa Restom GaskillColin RitchieTapan RoyJeanine SchmidtKirsten T. ServersonRakhee N. ShahRobert & Joyce ShapiroRavindra ShenoyMollyanne ShermanKaren M. SkellySusan SmithSuzanna M. SpringPete & Joann StaatSusan TannenbaumWendy TannenbaumDemetri TheoBrian Thorbrogger, in Memory of Chuck BonaseraBarbara TorrisonClaudia VahabzadehChien-Hsun Wang,Yolanda WeaverDebbie K. WestJack & Gloria Wong, in Memory of Peter WongJohn Wong, in Memory of Peter WongWinnie Wong

page 14 www.healingtherapiesfoundation.org

Jennifer RiebleNancy RodriquezJulie RosaThomas & Jennifer RowellShantel ScheelerRonald & Evelynne SchwartzJoel SerowokyMarilyn J. SoutarDuane & Judith SpechtJerilynn J. StarkMark & Mary Ann StitesBill SullivanBonnie Burnett TaylorChrystina G. TaylorDaniel J. TaylorDebora J. TellesAllan & Nancy TrocheBonnie F Verso, in Memory of Doris HollyNora VittoriaMadellane VittorioNancy WagnerBonny WallacePeri WalstenR. Douglas & Elizabeth Walters, in Memory of Carrie MarsalaTimothy J. WardBarry Q. WeberJanice WendellRobert & Deborah WhitesideMark & Susan WilliamsLeroy & Evelyn WingEric Wong, in Memory of Peter WongWendy WongRhonda R. WoodTrisha YoungCherie Ysunza, in Memory of Carrie Marsala

Fred YaredVictor YoungKathy A. ZanottoJohn Michael Zukoski

Up to $99Mary AccorneroCathy C. AdamoSharon AlmeidaEric Anderson, in Memory of Carrie MarsalaFlor Armada, in Memory of Doris HollyPatricia AshtonPrashanti Avasarala, in Honor of Dipti KadakiaKeith AverellSally BakerRenee BaptisteLynn A. BarsnickTheresa BaumgartnerChristine BermanSusan T. BlakeKelly N. Bradley, in Memory of Peter WongCaroll BrooksBecky Burlison, in Memory of Peter WongAnnette CahillAnna CampbellConnie CampbellMike CarrT. Rose CestraJudy ChagnonA.J. ChangGeorge & Reenah ChinchillaColleen CollRoy William CookSheila M. CunhaChris & Georgia Dalikas

Katheryn H. DarlingtonCindy DavisMelody DayVictoria DebrayCharles DeckertLara Delaney, in Memory of Carrie MarsalaPatricia Delucchi, in Memory of Carrie MarsalaBonnie De MartinLyndsey DowMarianne DoyleJeffrey E. EbeyGenise EdwardsBarry & Belma EldridgeSheryl A. EllisonRobert & Michelle EngelhartDenise L. EstradaAnn Marquis FisherJoe & Virginia FoosFrances Hewitt, Inc.Joseph Gardeski, in Memory of Carrie MarsalaCathleen GellepisSharon & J. Brian GrantYvonne GreenleeJutta HabermeierJeff & Carol HalbeKenneth & Eileen HalbrechtLorri Bellia HallDarlene F. HanlonStephanie HauschildtMary HernandezClaudia HessJason HubbardAndrew & Debra HuntB. JeanJennifer JimenezLisa Johnson

Alma KadicNadine T. KeahonLaura E. KebschullBarbara Kirby, in Memory of Peter WongJoseph & Cynthia KnappKaren Konecky, in Memory of Carrie MarsalaDavid Kraus, in Memory of Doris HollyStephen & Amy KrochmalPauline Kubo, in Memory of Peter WongMeredith KummellDavid & Jeanne LaMarcheEvelyn LambergJessica LawlerRhonda Lee & Michael HardwickJoel Levine, in Memory of Chuck BonaseraSoledad LopezSteven & Kelly MagoonRichard & Karen Martin, in Memory of Joy BenettiRosemary MartelliEric MartinWilfred MathewsMichael & Marie MatsonJeanne M. McAuliffePatricia MichellMartin & Pamela MolinaSoraya NaimyarColleen NewmanRowena M. NewmanGary & Kimberly OlsonMartha Osborn, in Memory of Carrie MarsalaSocorro Ramirez, in Memory of Peter WongPatricia Ramsay

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The Use of Acupuncture for Pain ReliefAs more and more oncologists embrace ho-listic therapies as part of a total approach to cancer care, many cancer patients have turned to acupuncture for relief of side effects caused by chemotherapy, radiation and surgery. In the United States, acupuncture is primarily used to control pain and relieve symptoms of dis-ease rather than to cure the disease itself. The principle use of acupuncture in cancer care is for pain relief, but there is strong evidence that the ancient form of Chinese medicine is also effective for controlling nausea and vomiting, thus improving a patient's quality of life.

While it is not known what the exact mecha-nism is to explain how acupuncture works, it is believed that acupuncture causes physical responses that control a number of body func-tions. These responses can cause the body to unleash proteins, hormones and brain chem-icals that control a number of body functions including the release of endorphins, the body's natural painkiller, and cortisol, the body's natu-ral anti-inflammatory drug.

Clinical trials on the use of acupuncture for the relief of nausea and vomiting caused by che-motherapy and surgery have shown the stron-gest evidence of its effectiveness. Additionally, human studies have revealed that acupuncture improves immune system response in cancer patients, including increasing the number of white blood cells. In clinical studies, some can-cer patients who were treated with acupuncture were even able to stop taking or reduce their dosages of pain relief medications.

Because chemotherapy and radiation therapy weaken the body's immune system, it is import-ant that cancer patients seeking acupuncture treatment choose practitioners who use a strict clean needle method. The acupuncturists who work with the Sandra J. Wing Healing Thera-pies Foundation are experienced practitioners whose objective it is to alleviate cancer treat-ment-related side-effects.

Source: National Cancer Institute. www.cancer.gov.

Grateful for These GrantsThe “elves” at the Pleasanton Weekly recent-ly presented a check to the Sandra J. Wing Healing Therapies Foundation for $3,753. The check, presented at a luncheon sponsored by the Rotary Club of Pleasanton, represented the Foundation’s share of donations raised during the Pleasanton Weekly 2012 Holiday Fund campaign.

Last month, The Sunshine Polka Dot Foun-dation awarded the $5,000 challenge grant it pledged to our Foundation back in January. The award came 2 1/2 months ahead of the June 30th, 2013, deadline thanks to the swift and generous outpouring of support from new donors to Sandra J. Wing Healing Therapies Foundation.

A big THANK YOU goes out to these two organizations for their generosity and indispensible support of our mission. The grants will go directly to providing comple-mentary therapies to patients suffering with cancer.

Sandra Wing is joined by other representatives from local charities who received 2012 Holiday Fund checks

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Wingspan is a free quarterly newsletter of the Sandra J. Wing Healing Therapies Foundation and is mailed to its sponsors, donors, practitioners, beneficia-ries, and volunteers. If you would like to receive Wingspan, please email the Foundation at htinfo@healingtherapiesfoundation.org to be added to the mailing list.

Editor: Jennifer HinesContributors: Shohreh Doustani, M.S., L.Ac., Dip O.M.Design and Production: Sue FrostPrinting provided by: Pacific Color Graphics

Ragin Cajun recap and photos inside!