When I was diagnosed with cancer, I couldn’t believe it. I
was so terrified. My greatest need was to know my family and
friends were there to help me through the terror. I also had a
great need for resources. I wanted to read everything I could on
this disease. I needed to learn how I could live with cancer
instead of being defeated by it. I also needed to talk to other
survivors. I needed to know I had a chance to beat this.”
-
Cancer Survivor
Stillwaters Cancer Support Services is a community-based,
not-for-profit 501(c)(3) agency providing supportive services
for cancer patients and their families. Our services focus on
helping people to understand that they are an important part of
their healing process and offers opportunities to share common
experiences, learn effective coping skills and make necessary
life changes to promote wellness.
Stillwaters offers cancer patients and their families a
personal approach to cancer support. Our programs complement the
efforts of medical professionals and other cancer organizations
by providing psychological, social and emotional support through
a community of professional staff, volunteers, patients and
their families.
Stillwaters offers a range of services and programs to help
individuals manage their stress and cope with the existential
crisis called cancer. Most of these therapies are based on a
mind-body-spirit approach to healing, with the focus on the
individual. Through Stillwaters programs and services
participants learn new skills that are integrative and
empowering.
Stillwaters services include professional counseling services
for individuals and families, professionally facilitated
retreats, workshops and groups, mentor matching, bereavement
services and programs for children impacted by cancer. In 2006,
Stillwaters served approximately 600 individuals from Waukesha,
Milwaukee and surrounding counties in Wisconsin.
After dealing with her son's 10-year ordeal with a brain
tumor and her personal battle with breast cancer, Mary Soergel,
the founder of Stillwaters recognized that the physical, mental,
emotional and spiritual balance of the entire family is
disturbed when one of its members is diagnosed with cancer. In
the late 1980's, Mary began facilitating a support group in
Oconomowoc to help people whose lives were under cancer's
control to learn how to take responsibility for their own
recovery. Stillwaters functioned on a volunteer basis until it
became incorporated as a non-profit organization in 1994.
