Touring the Serenity Garden dedicated by the Schneck Medical Foundation Tuesday, numerous guests paused to admire the centerpiece attraction, a three-tiered waterfall constructed from creek rock, commonly found around Jackson County.
Schneck Medical Center unveiled its latest facility upgrade Tuesday afternoon, June 23, as dozens gathered to witness the dedication of the Serenity Garden addition to the Don and Dana Myers Cancer Center in Seymour. The garden oasis was made possible by a donation from Juanita Groub, and a ceremony was conducted in her honor.
Juanita, or “Nete” as she is known among friends and family, said she was thrilled with the addition, but declined to take much credit for the project’s results.
“I just said I’d like to do something for the foundation,” she explained. “I am not sure who came up with the idea to build a garden, but I love gardens, and this turned out so beautifully. It feels good to know patients and their families will still be enjoying it years from now.”
In a gesture of gratitude, a glass art feature was dedicated to Groub, which is etched with an inspirational quote she selected to summarize the garden’s purpose in patient care. The piece was custom made by GRT Glass Design, and consists of three heavy glass panels with details emulating the flow of water. The center panel displays the quotation, “Life’s not about waiting for the storm to pass‚ it’s about learning to dance in the rain.” Though the author is unknown, the spirit of the saying showed through during Schneck Foundation executive director Rexanne Ude’s dedication speech.
“We are standing in a very serene place that will make a difference to people we now know, and to those we will never meet,” Ude said. Juanita, we lift you up today for being the heart of this project.”
Ude described a process she called “heart-wiring” during her commemoration address, explaining it as a linking of the head to the hands, and the hands to the heart. She said the head represents what is known, while the hands are what is done with the knowledge. Groub was the heart of the project, “which brings all the parts together and completes the circle,” Ude said.
As guest and patients toured the garden, a wave of positive feedback could be heard rippling along with the sounds made by the three-tiered waterfall feature serving as the garden’s focal point. Seating and access to electrical outlets allow patients undergoing chemotherapy to take their treatments in the garden, extending the boundaries of patient care beyond hospital walls.
