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DETROIT JEWISH NEWS
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The late Leah Davidson, while undergoing cancer treatment, with her husband, Jeff
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Leah's Legacy
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69
1,72-2011
iht an
,
6 February 2 • 2012
Senior Copy Editor
ust because Leah Davidson died
Dec. 4, don't think she's stopped
caring for her fellow cancer
patients. And just because his lovely Leah
left him, don't think her husband, Jeff, has
given up his role as caregiver.
Leah, a vibrant young grandmother,
and Jeff, a successful CPA, were sweet-
hearts since high school. On the surface,
the Birmingham couple seemed to have
everything going for them. But the depth
of Leah's 11-year struggle to survive non-
Hodgkin's lymphoma — including two
stem-cell transplants — was something
more readily comprehendible to her fellow
support group members at the Karmanos
Cancer Institute's Weisberg Treatment
Center on Northwestern Highway in
Farmington Hills.
Leah should know. She started the sup-
port group 10 years ago.
"We had just opened
the Weisberg Center:'
said oncology social
worker Kathleen Hardy,
"and Leah walked into
my office and said, 'We
have to start a group
for women like me who
ti
have chronic cancers:
Social worker
"Leah did all the leg-
Kathleen
work — getting the group
Hardy
members together, and I
facilitated the discussions',' said Hardy.
Leah soon discovered the importance of
stress reduction to cancer patients like her.
On her own initiative, she instituted "com-
plementary therapies" — non-medical
techniques that soothed and relaxed over-
whelmed and suffering cancer patients.
She learned, and eventually taught,
meditation, guided imagery (using one's
imagination to reduce stress) and reiki (a
healing energy force believed to emanate
from the hands).
"Leah has been a tremendous voluntary
force here said Hardy. "I don't think we
would have all the group programs with-
out her. And we've never had the financing
for a complementary therapy program
until Leah volunteered to set one up.
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Leah was beaming at her daughter
Janna's wedding in 2008.
"When Leah knew she was going to die,'
said Hardy, "she wanted to do something
to help future cancer patients discover
these non-medical techniques to help
them cope."
And in the weeks since Leah died, Jeff
has been working hard to perpetuate her
programs by establishing the Leah A.
Davidson Fund at Karmanos. So far, it has
received more than 130 donations, and
he has contributed a significant amount
himself. But the fund still has a substantial
way to go to reach its goal of $150,000.
"I'm hoping to get the fund to a level
where it would be self-sustaining and per-
manent," he said.
Anyone wishing to contribute can
go to the Karmanos website,
www.karmanos.org/giftofhope . Specify the
"Leah A. Davidson Fund" in the box titled
"Special Instructions:'
In addition, checks may be sent to
the Karmanos Cancer Institute, Leah A.
Davidson Fund-Code VEOlFs, 4100 John
R, Detroit, MI 48201.
For information, call 1-800-KARMANOS.
Cancer patients who are interested in
supportive services at the Weisberg Center,
can contact Kathleen Hardy at (248) 538-
4712 or hardyk@karmanos.org .
❑
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