C.R. Wood Cancer Center Open House September 20

The C.R. Wood Cancer Center at Glens Falls Hospital has recently completed major renovations to the outpatient areas, including adding a healing spa for acupuncture, massage, and other complementary therapies. The public was invited to an open house celebrating the completed renovations Thursday, September 20 from 6:30 – 8:00 P.M.

The renovations were paid for entirely with private contributions provided by the friends and family of the late Cindy Ginsburg. Mrs. Ginsburg, a Saratoga Springs resident, was a patient in the C.R. Wood Cancer Center and the founder of Cindy’s Retreat, a special program for women with cancer held at Silver Bay twice each year. The retreat inspired other programs including Cindy’s Comfort Camp, a weekend get-away held at the Double “H” Hole in the Woods Ranch for children who are dealing with a close relative’s death or serious illness, and a weekend men’s Retreat held each fall.

The $250,000 renovation includes a beautiful new waiting and relaxation area for patients and families, an indoor waterfall, new artwork, and new furniture in addition to the spa area which will be called “Cindy’s Healing Place.”

“Cindy was such an inspiration to so many people,” commented Pat Spencer-Cisek, Executive Director of Oncology Services. “Her power to help and heal is something we could all feel while she battled the disease that took her life. Now her legacy continues through our retreats, support programs and this beautiful new space here at the Center.”

Stuart Ginsburg, Cindy’s husband and the lead donor for this project, has played an active role in promoting his late wife’s agenda. “It was a simple philosophy really,” he says. “Cindy refused to be defined by her disease, she insisted on living and living well, and she wanted to help as many cancer patients as possible find the way to the same peace.”

Dr. Robert Sponzo is the Director of the C.R. Wood Cancer Center. He was Cindy’s physician, and the two developed a very special friendship. Reminiscing about his relationship for a celebration video that will be shown at the open house, Dr. Sponzo said, “Cindy is the greatest example of someone who would fit cancer therapy into her life rather than cancer therapy becoming her life. She showed us all how to live with her disease rather than succumbing to the disease. I think Cindy would say, ‘I told you it needed to be done. Now I’m glad to see that you¹re following my advice.’ And I think that she would be very happy to know that we¹ve gone the route that we¹ve gone, and that we truly are paying attention to the needs of patients and trying to make their dealing with cancer and their treatment as positive an experience as we can for them.”

The C.R. Wood Cancer Center is the only American College of Surgeons accredited Cancer Center in the North Country and Saratoga Region. It is a comprehensive center that includes a Cancer Prevention and Early Detection program, integrated state-of-the-art out patient medical and radiation oncology, a new inpatient facility that is part of the Northwest Tower, clinical research with more than 40 active trials in progress, and an interdisciplinary team of specialists supporting treatment. The Cancer Center also offers the Uniquely You® Boutique and Salon, which provides free hair care, wig, turban and scarf selection and styling for men and women with cancer and a series of retreats and special programs for patients and families. Learn more about the C.R. Wood Cancer center at http://www.glensfallshospital.org/cancer_treatment.htm. Learn more about Cindy’s Retreat at http://www.glensfallshospital.org/CindysRetreat/cindys-retreat-main.htm.