On a sunny Sunday afternoon, the garden outside Powers Health Rehabilitation Center was filled with laughter, music and stories of perseverance as the community gathered to celebrate National Cancer Survivors Day.
Held on June 1, the event welcomed survivors, caregivers, families and healthcare professionals from across Northwest Indiana. Attendees were treated to a grilled lunch, while a DJ kept the energy upbeat throughout the afternoon.
Now in its fourth year, the event featured a lineup of speakers from Powers Health and Northwest Cancer Centers. Each took a moment to reflect on the progress made in cancer care and the importance of honoring survivorship.
Craig Bolda, administrator of Powers Health Rehabilitation Center and vice president of Acute Rehabilitation Services, introduced guests to the Valori Kolarczyk Healing Garden. Named in memory of a beloved program director of Acute Rehabilitation at St. Mary Medical Center, the garden provides a peaceful space for recovery and reflection.
“We appreciate and are so proud to be part of your care team on your survivorship journey,” Bolda said.
Leo Correa, CEO of St. Catherine Hospital in East Chicago and executive leader of Cancer Care Services for Powers Health, shared plans for the future of cancer care in Northwest Indiana.
“Later this year, just 200 yards from here, we will open a 71,000-square-foot Cancer Care Center,” Correa said. “It’s a collaborative effort between Powers Health and Northwest Cancer Centers that will transform how we deliver cancer treatment.”
The new facility will house advanced diagnostic testing, radiation therapy, infusion services, cancer-focused physical therapy and access to clinical trials and counseling. All services will be available under one roof, providing streamlined care for patients throughout Northwest Indiana.
“This is a destination for cancer care,” Correa said. “We’re bringing an academic-level approach to a community setting.”
Dr. Mohamad Kassar, president of Northwest Cancer Centers, thanked patients and families for their trust in the team and emphasized the importance of collaboration.
“No medical specialty can fight cancer alone,” Kassar said. “It’s truly a group effort.”
An emotional part of the day came from cancer survivor Daniel Litwicki and his father, Thomas Litwicki. Daniel shared his eight-year journey through multiple brain surgeries, immunotherapy and rehabilitation. Despite seizures, complications and setbacks, he kept fighting.
“I wanted to be an uncle to my nieces, not a gravesite for them to visit,” he said. “Thanks to my doctors, nurses and the love of my family, this October will mark eight years of life that I almost didn’t have.”
His father offered his perspective as a caregiver. He emphasized the importance of being strong for loved ones, staying informed and taking care of your own emotional well-being.
“They need some type of normalcy, some type of regular activity,” he said. “And emotionally – for yourself – you have to let it out. It will eat you up if you don’t.”
As the event wrapped up with raffle prizes and conversations among new friends, one message resonated throughout the garden: survivorship is a journey worth celebrating.
To learn more about Powers Health’s cancer services and upcoming events, visit powershealth.org/cancer-care.
