Hinsdale’s Healing Home

Wellness House has supported cancer wellness and holistic healing for 35 years

By Anna Hughes

For the last 15 years, Elaine Adams has been volunteering at Wellness House in Hinsdale.

Elaine Adams

On Wednesdays, she works the front desk. On Mondays and Thursdays, she helps women experiencing hair loss from cancer treatment find the right wig.

Each fitting is unique: Through trial and error, they experiment with a variety of hair colors and styles to ensure each client feels physically and mentally comfortable with their selection.

Yet, each fitting is the same: These women are emotional, grappling with their new identity—both inside and out. Adams considers it a privilege to support them during their most vulnerable moments.

“There is a moment where the right wig goes on, and she lights up,” Adams said. “It’s either with happiness or relief or joy, and she says, ‘That’s me.’ And I get goosebumps.”

Adams considers these moments to be the most rewarding part of her life. She’s met thousands of patients and their support systems, and she’s witnessed countless moments of strength and resilience.

“They do more for me than I could ever do for them,” Adams said.

Volunteers like Adams have been vital to Wellness House’s mission for the past 35 years. The organization offers free programs to support anyone affected by cancer—helping participants improve their emotional and physical well-being as a complement to medical treatment.

“[Wellness House] is a place that offers a very safe place for people from all walks of life, all experiences, all different socioeconomic backgrounds,” Angela Breton, former board member and current Ball Chair, said. “Cancer is kind of a level playing field here. It doesn’t discriminate.”

Angela Breton

At just 8 years old, Breton lost her mom to cancer. That early loss inspired a lifelong commitment to supporting patients and families like hers. When she moved to Hinsdale nine years ago, Wellness House was the perfect opportunity to give back.

“What really struck me was the Turtles program, which…has meetings and play groups, and then it has summer camp options for either children going through cancer, or children of parents or loved ones that are experiencing a cancer diagnosis and trying to learn how to deal with that,” Breton said. “Wellness House [is] able to offer [these programs] to children going through the same thing I went through back in the day. So, I thought that was pretty cool.”

As a board member, Breton helped expand the Wellness House’s reach, recruiting community members with skills and experiences that could make a difference.

“There are so many ways that you can contribute that actually make a difference to the House,” Breton said. “It doesn’t just have to be money, it doesn’t just have to be time, it doesn’t just have to be resources. It can be one or all, or some combination of all of the above.”

Wellness House offers an assortment of services—educational, fitness, nutrition, support groups, counseling, stress management, and more—for cancer patients and family members. Every person who walks through their doors can pick and choose which tools best support their healing journeys, all completely free of charge.

Kasia Byrne

Their mission was appealing to Kasia Byrne, who turned to Wellness House after being diagnosed with breast cancer in 2023. Hesitant about traditional treatment, she focused on holistic approaches like yoga, strength training, and Qigong, a Chinese form of medicine focused on energy cultivation and meditation.

“It’s just such a wonderful resource,” Byrne said.

Although Byrne ultimately followed her doctors’ recommendations for surgery and radiation, she credits Wellness House for aiding in her physical and emotional healing.

“[My doctors told me to] ‘just have a surgery. When you have surgery, then you go to radiation. When you’re done with radiation, you’re going to start taking this drug.’ But that was it,” Byrne said. “In those support groups and talking to other patients [at Wellness House], you kind of find out about [other ways to heal].”

Now cancer-free, Byrne continues to utilize Wellness House resources to help restore her mind and body. She still attends weekly classes, leaning on her support team of others who understand her experience.

“When I was diagnosed, I felt super lonely,” Byrne said. “[At Wellness House] you feel like part of the family… It’s very comforting.”

Byrne now shares what she’s learned with newcomers, offering the same wisdom that was passed down to her. That camaraderie and connection is at the core of what fuels Wellness House. From former participants to passionate volunteers and hard-working staff, each person contributes to the shared goal of helping others.

“[Wellness House] is a place that offers a very safe place
for people from all walks of life, all experiences,
all different socioeconomic backgrounds.”
— Angela Breton, former Wellness House board member

“It makes you human…when you can do something for somebody else,” Adams said. “All three women commend the team for creating a compassionate and empowering environment. Whether it’s through a new program or a simple hug on a hard day, they feel confident that each person who walks through the House doors will leave feeling a little lighter—and a little less alone.

“I think it’s a calling,” Adams said. “A vocation.”

For more information on Wellness House programs or how you can get involved, visit WellnessHouse.org. Doors are always open for local residents to explore the house and all it has to offer.