Cone Health to construct healing garden for cancer patients

GREENSBORO, N.C. Leaders of the Cone Health Healing Garden say they are ready to start construction on a two-acre $1.2 million project to help cancer patients.

Landscape Architect Sally Pagliai and her friend Mary, a cancer survivor, first started thinking about a healing garden for patients two years ago.

Both my father and my husband had cancer, Pagliai explained. I lost them both to cancer. The process of going through the whole chemotherapy treatment and being here [at Cone Health Cancer Center] an awful lot of hours, it just made sense for people to have an oasis when theyre going through a stressful time like that.

Pagliai said the staff at Wesley Long Hospital is warm and kind, and she wants employees and patients there to have a relaxing escape in nature.

The garden will include a wetland area, patios, boardwalk walkways and a community garden.

We will have raised brick beds that will be tall enough so wheelchairs can roll up to them and people can garden from their chairs.

The community has been incredibly receptive to the Healing Garden, which will be located in Greensboro not far from Friendly Center just outside the Cone Health Cancer Center.

Theyve raised $875,000 of the $1.2 million goal.

Because cancer touches all of us in some way, shape or form, people can relate to this, added Pagliai. Nature has a huge effect on helping people to heal. The whole idea of working here at this garden at this hospital has really helped me to heal also and to give back to such a wonderful community.

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Cone Health to construct healing garden for cancer patients