Hospice of Santa Cruz County’s Grief Support Program
Why Hospice?
In 1995 Bianchini’s husband Jerry was diagnosed with stage four lymphoma. Four months later, at the age of 37, she was a widow with a four-year-old child. After her husband’s death she attended HSCC’s private counseling and found peace and understanding through the “Loss of Spouse” bereavement group. Cheri said, “I found a community where I could have my feelings, my grief; and hospice really helped me.” In the five years that followed Bianchini lost her mother, her father, her in-laws, her best friend and her godparents. Being the primary caregiver for her mother, her godmother and her mother-in-law gave Bianchini the opportunity to really experience hospice in action and the “Loss of Grandparent” group helped her daughter tremendously.
Giving Back
Cheri’s experience led her to volunteer as a bereavement counselor for HSCC. “I try to lead with a vision of hope to help people know they are going to be able to survive the grief,” she shares. “Yes, we miss the people who are gone and death is certainly a difficult experience, but I’m OK and my daughter is OK. I’m definitely a better person after going through all this loss and doing the work of grief. I have a richer life, a fuller perspective and I try not to sweat the small stuff. I have come to realize that death is as normal as living.”
Cheri’s passion for life spills over into her company “The Healthy Way” where she takes pride in sharing the long-term success rate of her clients — 60% of who are within five pounds from their original weight loss two years after completing her program. The last fashion show raised $3,700 for HSCC. The event showcases The Healthy Way clients wearing clothing from local businesses.
Cheri states, “Everything is a community effort! This year we had the Outback in Felton, Cinnamon Bay in Seascape and Aptos Shoe and Apparel. Ralph Anybody from KPIG was the MC and the fashion coordinator was Janene Adema, who’s been a hospice volunteer for 15 years. The beautiful healthy buffet was from Chef Adrienne Meier. We had two clients who had lost over 100 pounds! The 18 models represented a total of 973 pounds lost. Seeing their children out in the audience with tears streaming down their faces was priceless.”
All proceeds from the fashion show benefit Hospice of Santa Cruz County’s community programs including the grief support services. “There is a richness in my life that I would be lacking if it weren’t for hospice”, said Bianchini.