ORLANDO, Fla. – A local spa tucked inside a cancer institute is helping to pamper patients.
"Once you walk through that front door you are our sister,” said Wendy Rayam as she greeted our New 6 crew outside Eden Spa at Florida Hospital Orlando.
Inside we found lotions, nail polish and handbags, but farther down the hallway the spa opened into a place for private treatments. Salon chairs, massage chairs, and a wig room filled with nearly 300 hair pieces.
“No one leaves here without a hair piece,” said Rayam.
Eden Spa Operations Manager Anjanene Moitt explained that the salon offered all the services cancer patients need, including specialty massages, bra and wig fittings, and compression sleeves.
"The hardest part for me, are the young girls, the 16-year-olds, the 2-year-olds, you know the 13-year-olds that's just now starting middle school, get a cancer diagnosis and I have to shave their head,” said Rayam.
Karima Mourhat beat cancer, but after radiation and chemotherapy, needed treatment for lymphedema, swelling in the arms or legs after lymph nodes are surgically removed.
"It was painful, very painful, and I didn't know what to do, I didn't know where to go,” said Mourhat.
Selene Johnson is a specialist in made to measure compression garments at Eden Spa. Johnson said the sleeves help to keep fluid from getting congested or pooling in the extremities.
"I'm getting better, I see results,” said Mourhart.
"There's so many women that don't know we're here to help after the process,” said Johnson.
About 1200 patients come through Eden Spa every year, but Moitt said they are opening their doors to more.
Uninsured or underinsured patients can apply to the Florida Hospital Foundation, or their Angel’s Closet program to qualify for massages, compression sleeves, or wigs free of charge.
To schedule an appointment or for more Information on how to qualify for services, call: 407-303-9727.