New ‘Sunshine Room’ to open for cancer patients at Halifax hospital

The Sunshine Room at the QEII has reopened and offers a reprieve for cancer patients and their families.

A newly-renovated and welcoming space for cancer patients will open soon at a hospital in Halifax.

The Sunshine Room is designed for patients to have a peaceful and serene place away from clinical areas in the Victoria General.

It was first established in 2003 and visited by many patients, until COVID-19.

“The pandemic changed all that when volunteers were no longer allowed to practice in the hospital during COVID. That old Sunshine Room was changed into much-needed chemotherapy treatment areas,” says Erin Fair, a volunteer coordinator with Nova Scotia Health.

“They can come in here, get a bite to eat. They can visit with other cancer patients and volunteers that are trained to provide that kind of support.”

Among the volunteers is Ron Ternoway, a reiki therapist and cancer survivor.

“This space is an oasis of calm and compassion in the crazy world, the anxious world, the stressful world of being sick with cancer,” he says.

“It’s a place to breathe and relax. I just feel so much better even working as a volunteer because it energizes me, it makes me have a purpose of doing something that benefits patients, caregivers, staff and myself, so win-win-win-win-win.”

Patients can also receive free hairdressing services, wig fittings, massage therapy and reflexology.

Plans are also in the works to have a book club, a knitting club and art therapy.

All services are provided free of charge.

“Not just their clinical care is being treated, their mental health is also being recognized as a huge important piece in the recovery from cancer,” Fair says.

“People found a community here that they didn’t otherwise have and so we’re really excited to be able to bring that back.”

The Sunshine Room is on the main floor of the Victoria General’s Centennial Building and will be open Monday to Friday between 9 a.m. and 3 p.m.

It begins welcoming patients on May 26.

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