WM Wellness Program Newsletter of IWMF | | |
Hello friends, and happy September!
Please join me in welcoming our new CEO and President, Delora Senft!
Delora has an impressive background which I strongly believe will help IWMF take it's next steps towards a truly integrated future. While we search for a cure, we can continue to take exquisite care of ourselves!
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Can you please help our new CEO Delora Senft get to know the IWMF Wellness Program, and the impact it's had on you, by taking the September Wellness Survey? Your voice matters.
Bookmark this email because it has all our class links for the month, as well as links to all the playlists on YouTube and Vimeo so you can catch up on recordings.
Note: No Chair Yoga September 1st
| | IWMF offers a range of wellness classes tailored to meet the needs of those affected by WM. Our evidence-based practices address the whole person—not just the disease. Learn More | | | September Calendar | | Find a Zoom Link or Recording | | Invite a Friend: World Lymphoma Awareness Day | | Wellness Webinar: Empowering Caregivers | | Our WM Journey by Betty Ann and Gregg Morton | | Why Exercise and Healthy Eating Matter
by Sharon Piotrowski | | Exercise Oncology Comes of Age | | In Case You Missed It: Getting Creative | | Celebrating Ginger H. with Yoga Nidra | | | Click the calendar - it's printable! If you are unsure what time a class meets for you, use the Time Zone Converter. | | Join a Live IWMF Class or Find a Recording | | All classes meet in Eastern Time | | Invite a Friend to Chair Yoga | | World Lymphoma Awareness Day, September 15th at 2pm ET | | |
What does it mean to be diagnosed with a form of lymphoma?
Invite a family member, friend, co-worker, or care partner to our signature Chair Yoga class to shine a light on living well with lymphoma.
Join our global community to move, breathe, and stay connected! Let's widen our circle of community support.
| | | Wellness Webinar: For the WM Caregivers | | | | |
Thursday, September 25th 1-2:30pm ET
Get equipped with practical tools and valuable resources to navigate the WM caregiving journey with resilience. Join Jill Farabelli, a licensed clinical social worker with over 20 years of experience in healthcare.
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Whether you’re new to caregiving or have been in the role for years, this session will cover essential topics including time management, self-care, communication strategies, accessing local resources, and dealing with caregiver stress and burnout.
Register here for Empowering Caregivers with Jill Farabelli
| | Our WM Journey by Betty Ann and Gregg Morton | | |
Betty Ann: Since I was diagnosed back in 2001, we’ve had a long journey with WM, with many ups and downs. My initial diagnosis resulted from unusual findings on a lab test. I thought I was going to die in the very near future; my world felt as if it had collapsed.
My husband Gregg came with me to all of my appointments, helped make sure that our everyday life stayed stable, and gave me time and space to figure things out. With the exception of a few difficult periods health-wise, the support that Gregg has provided for me has mainly been emotional. That, and excellent health insurance!
Gregg: When Betty Ann learned that she had some form of cancer, it hit me hard. I remember that we went to a group meeting at church, where Betty Ann shared the news. It was helpful to have people’s prayers and support. But, of course, this was a journey we'd have to take mainly on our own.
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From the beginning, I went with Betty Ann to her doctor’s appointments. I wanted to show my support for her, and this was a way that I thought could make a difference.
And when she had infusions, I went with her to keep her company. I remember that she had one infusion right before Christmas, and she was able to get permission from the facility for me to bring my guitar and sing for her. Of course, others in the room could hear as well.
| | Betty Ann: About nine years ago, a series of treatments resulted in low immunity and hospitalization for pneumonia. Gregg showed up at the hospital to sing a favorite folk song that I requested. Once I returned home, weak and without an appetite, my husband helped me regain strength. He cooked tasty meals and didn’t criticize me for eating only tiny portions. Again he gave me time and acceptance. | | | |
Gregg: Betty Ann took charge of her medications and of tracking her numbers. I never had a lot of understanding of the details, and I didn’t need to, because she was her own champion. She would do research into optional treatments and take ideas and questions to her doctor.
Three years ago, the Ed Forum was located in St. Louis. Since we live outside Chicago, that was an easy drive and we decided to go. We enjoyed it so much that we have gone to the next two – in Washington State and in Florida. As long as we can go, we are likely to do so.
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Betty Ann: Gregg has been my partner through WM, coming to support group meetings and more recently to the IWMF Ed Forums, providing support with his presence.
Having a caregiver is a valuable gift for a WM patient, one that changes over time and circumstances. I feel extremely fortunate to have Gregg with me, and caring for me, through these WM years.
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Betty Ann and Gregg Morton live outside Chicago, Illinois, and are active members of the local WM support group.
Betty Ann is a regular contributor to the IWMF publication The Torch, as well as a helpful administrator in the private WM Facebook group. She has participated in IWMF wellness classes since May 2021.
Gregg graciously brings his guitar to the Ed Forum meetings, and shares music at the Support Group Leader dinners, collaborating with others to lead singalongs. We are very grateful to have them in our community!
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Why Exercise and Healthy Eating Matter
by Sharon Piotrowski
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As a personal trainer and someone living with Waldenstrom macroglobulinemia (WM), I often hear the question: “What can I do to improve my health despite having a chronic cancer?”
I’m not a doctor, but as an ACE Certified Personal Trainer for 17+ years and an exerciser for 20+ years, I believe movement and healthy eating are powerful tools that can help you:
- Get through treatment with more stamina
- Recover more effectively
- Support a healthier mindset
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Why Exercise and Healthy Eating Matter More for Us
If you’re living with cancer, your body has different needs. According to the American Cancer Society, you can improve treatment tolerance, increase energy, support recovery, and lower the risk of other diseases by:
- Maintaining a healthy weight
- Being physically active
- Following healthy eating patterns
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Why Exercise Helps
- Preserves muscle and strength – fights weakness from treatment or hospital stays.
- Improves heart and lung fitness – makes everyday tasks (stairs, groceries) easier.
- Boosts energy – gentle activity can reduce fatigue over time.
- Lifts mood – endorphins improve mental wellness.
- Improves sleep – daytime movement can help regulate rest cycles.
- Enhances well-being – builds confidence and a sense of control.
(Source: Blood Cancer United, formerly LLS)
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Motivational Tips
- Start small – even 5 min/day counts
- Set realistic goals (e.g., 15 min once a week for 4 weeks)
- Create a workout playlist
- Lay out workout clothes the night before
- Find a buddy for accountability
- Give yourself grace if you miss a day
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Fitness plays a vital role in cancer care. It can improve physical function, reduce side effects of treatment, enhance mental well-being, and potentially improve survival rates.
IWMF Fitness Classes are designed to help you build strength, support immune system health, improve balance and coordination, and manage fatigue and neuropathy.
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Why a Healthy Meal Matters
A balanced diet supports both patients and healthy individuals by:
- Reducing inflammation – may lower risk of other diseases
- Supporting healthy weight – eases strain on heart & joints
- Strengthening immunity – helps fight infections & heal faster
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Foods to Limit:
- Added sugars - blood sugar spikes & inflammation
- Unhealthy fats - raise cholesterol, increase heart risk
- Highly processed foods - excess sodium, preservatives, low-quality fats
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Foods to Focus On:
- Fruits & veggies
- Whole grains
- Lean proteins
- Healthy fats (olive oil, nuts, fatty fish)
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Tip: Follow the 80/20 rule - eat healthy 80% of the time, enjoy treats 20%.
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Note: Consult you doctor before starting an exercise routine or changing your diet to determine a safe, personalized plan.
Stay tuned for more wellness webinars on nutrition coming in 2026!
| | Exercise Oncology Comes of Age | | |
From the Journal of the National Cancer Institute
Exercise oncology is coming of age, with more than 30,000 peer-reviewed citations in the scientific literature and multiple guidelines published by major medical institutions based on strong evidence from randomized controlled trials.
| | Exercise programming for people living with and beyond cancer has expanded. Multiple major medical associations agree that exercise is an effective measure to manage cancer-related and treatment-related side effects in people living with and beyond cancer, and the knowledge base of the effects of exercise on cancer treatment outcomes is expanding. | | | There is enthusiasm around the formation of a new international organization that will form a nexus for exercise oncology researchers, clinicians, and practitioners: the International Society of Exercise Oncology (ISEO). Efforts are continuing to effect policy changes that will sustainably support exercise oncology programming. Taken together, work focused on research, practice, policy, awareness, and workforce development in exercise oncology continues to mature. | | In Case You Missed It: Getting Creative | | |
Thanks to all who joined our wellness webinar this month on Expressive Arts.
Expressive Arts, rooted in art therapy, is a compassionate and flexible approach to healing and self-discovery. It’s not about creating a masterpiece, but about engaging with the process — to express, release, and restore. Like meditation, making art activates measurable changes in the brain! Check out the recording:
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"I really enjoyed this and was impressed with the scientific data, especially the brain waves. Thank you very much! "
"Thank you so much, a wonderful workshop. I loved the hands on exercises and the experimenting."
-Expressive Arts Webinar Participants
| | Above, some of the images our community created during the webinar. We look forward to scheduling more sessions with Dana Kuehn in 2026! | | Celebrating Ginger H. with Yoga Nidra | | | | |
Earlier this week, Ginger Hobbs took flight into the great beyond, surrounded by the warmth and love of her family. She was a beloved friend and active WM wellness community member.
Ginger's journey through hospice care, following her treatments with DLBCL—a complication of WM—was shared with our community, gifting us all with her grace, compassion, curiosity, and joy.
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Ginger inspired and touched so many of us with her calm presence, and she delighted us with her wise and warm observations, bringing us closer as a community.
Fellow WM wellness community participant Anne Moffat visited Ginger three times during her trips from Canada into the United States, pictured here. Note the purple mask; purple was Ginger's signature color.
| | "Ginger was pretty much continuously in treatment over the last ten years. What a beautiful, indomitable spirit she was! From Ginger, I hope I have learned acceptance. I admired her very much. She always kept her sense of humor about everything." - Anne M. | | |
Ginger truly embodied the spirit of connection that IWMF fosters. Among the many wellness offerings she attended, our monthly Yoga Nidra sessions found a special place in her heart; she practiced with admirable consistency. This 30-minute guided relaxation session invites practitioners to relax the body, liberate the mind, and let the spirit play.
In honor of Ginger’s vibrant spirit, we can meet in the ethereal space she loved, and revisit our last Yoga Nidra practice together. Join us at your convenience to keep the connection alive and alight with Ginger's effervescence: Yoga Nidra with Singing Bowls: Life Journey.
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Thank you for your ongoing participation!
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Each and every one of you is an integral part of this community. Together, we are stronger; you are never alone. Special thanks to the WM volunteers who shared their perspectives for this newsletter! Don't forget to:
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"I appreciate all that you continue to do to support our Waldenstrom community. Having been involved with a variety of cancers and their support systems, I can honestly say that the IWMF is the best. We are fortunate to have such a remarkable organization."
-IWMF Wellness Community Participant
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With gratitude,
Ann Grace MacMullan
E-RYT 500, C-IAYT
IWMF Wellness Program Coordinator
phone: 917.837.2014
email: anngrace@iwmf.com
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CONTACT ANN with any questions or concerns, or if you'd like to be removed from this list.
Note: The IWMF Wellness Program offers complementary or integrative practices to be used in conjunction with standard medical treatment, along with the approval of your doctor.
| | IWMF, 6144 Clark Center Ave., Sarasota, FL 34238 | info@iwmf.com | | | | |
