HEALING POWER OF LAUGHTER—Cancer survivors Jean Toomey of Thousand Oaks, left, and Deolinda Bruno of Simi Valley laugh as they work on a craft project together last week at a womens' cancer support group. The group of 20 to 30 women meets once a month at the office of Dr. Hany Khalil in Simi Valley and gives members the chance to talk with other survivors about their experiences. The focus of Wednesday's meeting was "things to be grateful for." WENDY PIERRO Acorn Newspapers Jenny Saturday passed cards around the room and asked those who received them to complete a simple craft project—trace a hand and decorate the outline with dry macaroni.

As part of a Thanksgiving theme, on the back of the cards were famous quotes about gratitude and thankfulness.

The Nov. 19 gathering of cheerful, chattering women sounded more like a tea party than a meeting of cancer patients and survivors—but that's what it was

The group meets once a month at the office of oncologists Hany Khalil and Bassam Ghanem on Erringer Road

WENDY PIERRO/Acorn Newspapers FRIENDSHIPS FORMED—Cancer survivors and Simi residents Sharon Heiser and Ellie Kokotos work together on a craft project during their women's cancer support group. As part of a special thankfulness get-together, the women of the cancer support group shared their sentiments and wrote them on colorful leaves.

"Everyone took a moment to either write a sentence or a word of thankfulness," said Patricia Knipper, a registered nurse who helps organize the meetings.

Knipper collected the leaves for a ceremony to be held in the spring. The office staff will plant a donated liquidambar tree outside the office, and the leaves will act as mulch.

"The roots will capture the words. All those good thoughts and wishes will be part of the tree," Knipper said.

The cancer patients and survivors expressed gratitude for many blessings in their lives.

One woman wrote: "I am thankful for my kind children and the gift of good health." Another wrote: "I am thankful for every day that I have."

Other women expressed thankfulness for God, for "this moment" and for second chances. One woman was thankful for "no bad hair days."

"I'm thankful for my family," Knipper said, "and for the opportunity to help other people."

The women read what they'd written on the leaves to each other, exchanging smiles and winks.

The group has been meeting for the past two years. The idea for the group came about when Saturday joked with Khalil that she needed something to do after completing her grueling chemotherapy treatments.

Both patient and doctor had the same thing in mind.

"I thought it would be good to have a social get-together and give patients a place to share their experiences," Khalil said. "The women don't come here to cry or complain. They have a good time together."

Saturday joined with Knipper and Deirdre Dunbar, another registered nurse working at the office, to organize the meetings.

Nurses clear out a room that is used during the day for chemotherapy treatments. They set up tables and chairs, covering the tables with cloth and candles, Saturday said, "to make it look pretty."

"We do crafts like painting flowers," said Saturday, a breast cancer survivor and a mother of four young children. "The elderly patients may not have painted in 50 years, but once they get their hands busy, their mouths get busy talking.

"The women might tell each other about their own situation and prognosis. Mostly they enjoy each other's company and support," Saturday said, adding that the hourlong meetings usually last quite a bit longer.

More than 25 women, ages 30 to 88, meet once a month.

"We don't focus on cancer. We focus on living," said Johnna Fiore, another founding member of the group.

The 34-year-old local resident is undergoing radiation for a rare form of cancer.

"The group gives me a lot of support," she said. "We're battling a war here. It's nice to talk to someone who's gone through it. You see there's a light at the end of the tunnel."

"I've made so many friends here. They're very loving. We do a lot of things together," said Johanna Charbonneau, a Simi Valley resident and cancer survivor. "We laugh most of the time."

All the women said they were grateful for family, friends and the doctors and nurses helping them.

"I'm grateful I'm doing so well," Charbonneau said. "I'd be most grateful if those who aren't doing as well get better."

Saturday agreed.

"A nurse can tell you what a treatment is like, but it's more meaningful from someone who's gone through it," she said. "I can help somebody else by telling them, 'I did that, and you can do it too.'"