The Fred & Pamela Buffett Cancer Center will include an outdoor healing garden — Leslie’s Healing Garden — as part of its Healing Arts Program.
Leslie’s Healing Garden will be created with support from Marshall and Mona Faith, longtime supporters of the Omaha community, with an undisclosed amount through the University of Nebraska Foundation. The healing garden is named after one of their daughters, who lost her battle with pediatric cancer at age two and a half approximately 60 years ago.
“She is behind all our thoughts,” said Marshall Faith. “It fits us as a way to put her name, in a small way, into the future.”
The healing garden will serve as a place where patients and their families can visit to escape the realities of cancer and spend time outside enjoying the flowers, pine trees and heated walkways.
“Flowers were Leslie’s favorite thing, along with singing songs. I think of all the moms that this space will benefit and what a blessing it will be,” said Mona Faith.
The Faiths shared their story of Leslie and the vision for Leslie’s Healing Garden in this video.
Jeffrey P. Gold, M.D., UNMC chancellor and chairman of the Nebraska Medicine Advisory Board, said that the Faiths’ gift will be an integral part of the Healing Arts Program, which is being developed using evidence-based research to aid in the healing of patients.
“Our patients will truly benefit from Leslie’s Healing Garden and the entire Healing Arts Program,” Dr. Gold said. “We could not be more grateful to the Faiths for their generous gift.”
“Healing requires more than just treating the patient medically. Studies have shown that creating an atmosphere of hope and resilience through artwork goes beyond curing a disease and leads to improved patient outcomes. Patients, visitors and staff will all benefit from this enhanced environment,” said Kenneth Cowan, M.D., Ph.D., director of the Fred & Pamela Buffett Cancer Center.
“The Fred & Pamela Buffett Cancer Center is creating a place of continued innovation, holistic healing and an environment that serves patients beyond their expectations,” said Gail Walling Yanney, M.D., Healing Arts Program committee member. “Leslie’s Healing Garden is the first of many exciting announcements about the Healing Arts Program. There is a vision to present a prestigious and diverse healing art collection, and the University of Nebraska Foundation is working to raise the needed funds to create a program like no other.”
What a wonderful gift and a fantastic place for patients and their families to have access to! Views of nature are relaxing, healing, and can actually reduce hospital stay length; which is all part of providing Extraordinary Care. Kudos to the Faith's and all those involved for the Healing Arts Program and for providing such a wonderful area!