Support and Coping with Cancer   /   Creative Inspiration

Amethyst House

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Timothy Rowe
Copyright © 2001, Timothy Rowe
Last Modified: November 1, 2001

Amethyst House is located across the street from the Cancer Centre in Thunder Bay, Ontario. It provides accommodation for out of town patients who are in town to receive cancer treatment. This poem is dedicated to Harvey and Flo, two good friends, who we first met when I started treatment.

We're here in Thunder Bay

Cancer treatment to endure

We're feeling very optimistic

We're hoping for a cure

We live here at Amethyst House

Monday morning till Friday at noon

We live together in a group

Sort of like in a small commune

At Amethyst house you're not alone

You find comfort and feel at ease

You know you're not the only one

Who has this dread disease

There's no talk of death

Though bodies are ravaged by cancer

Just talk of life and optimism

And trying to help each other

Being together with other victims

Helps a person to cope

The encouragement you receive

Gives you much needed hope

The treatments are now over

We'll be leaving this afternoon

We are sad to be leaving

The end came all too soon

We met a lot of real nice people

That we will not soon forget

Our stay at Amethyst House

We never will regret.

T. C. Rowe