Erika Balza
2017 Participant/Breast Cancer Survivor
November New Smyrna, FL
Our blessing of being chosen for the 2017 LPHOH New Smyrna Beach retreat came in August, through an email received while we were on another cancer retreat. Due to how the other cancer retreat turned out, I initially said an emphatic “NO” to my husband, that we would NOT attend the LPHOH retreat.  There is no way I can thank my husband for convincing me to go. The first email received from our VolunStar made me feel as if we had a new member of our family. The generosity of LPHOH and its donors is overwhelming! We made lifelong friends from the retreat, new friends that we will never forget, and thanks to social media, we will be able to keep up with. We tried new things with the activities. My husband and I tried to go kayaking together, but kayaks tend to discriminate against fat people, and flipped us over immediately! What a great chance to laugh! (Although losing his expensive prescription glasses in the lagoon wasn’t THAT funny…LOL!) The financial environment of not having to pay for anything was a huge stress relief, and that is priceless. Not only did my husband and I have the time to become closer on the retreat, we drove from Wisconsin to New Smryna Beach, and had all of that extra time to talk and become even closer. It was very hard for him to go back to work when we returned, and I immediately missed being together with him every minute! I look at the pictures from the retreat, and the souvenirs we brought home, and I can’t help but smile at the memories. Memories I wouldn’t have had, if it hadn’t been for the quiet convincing that my husband did with me. I would definitely recommend LPHOH to anyone and everyone I know!