Cancer Survivor to be Featured on Style Network’s “Clean House”

June 9, 2010 - PRLog -- Livingston, NJ – Cervical cancer survivor Christine Benedict, who credits Saint Barnabas Medical Center (SBMC) with saving her life, will be featured on Style Network's popular home-makeover series "Clean House." The episode is scheduled to air June 16, 2010, at 10 p.m.  

Earlier this year, the crew for "Clean House" came to Ms. Benedict’s residence to film its clean-up and makeover show. The program redecorated the once-cluttered Cape Cod home that she and her family share in Wayne, N.J.

Ms. Benedict was diagnosed with cancer in October 2007. She said that she chose Saint Barnabas Medical Center and its Gynecologic Cancer and Pelvic Surgery Center for her treatment because it is “the premier female cancer center” in New Jersey. So each day, her husband Bill would make the 60-mile round trip to drive her from Wayne to the center in Livingston.

“I recommend Saint Barnabas without reservation,” Ms. Benedict said. “The people who were a part of my Saint Barnabas experience will be forever in my heart; I owe each of them, quite literally, my life.”

During her illness Ms. Benedict underwent about 18 months of intense treatments, including radiation, chemotherapy, six minor surgeries and a major surgery. As the family, including 9 1/2-year-old daughter Katherine, struggled to cope and take care of Ms. Benedict, mundane chores like housework got pushed aside. By last summer, the Benedict home had become a cramped mess, stuffed with papers, toys, clothes and boxes. Ms. Benedict, a fan of “Clean House,” contacted the show for help.

Following her triumph over cancer, Ms. Benedict wanted to be surrounded by a clean environment. The family also desired a new look for their home, so they wouldn't be reminded of the dark period during her illness. So “Clean House” experts Matt Iseman, Trish Suhr and Mark Brunetz came to Wayne to show the Benedicts how to tidy up their house. As part of the show's format, the Benedicts then had to part with and sell of some of their belongings in a yard sale to help pay for their home makeover.  

Ms. Benedict, who still comes to Saint Barnabas every three months for check-ups, raved about the entire medical team that treated her, starting off with a huge thanks to Robert Taylor, MD, her surgical oncologist; her “amazing” radiation oncologist, Raquel Wagman, MD; and the “fabulous” Jennifer Ann Wagmiller, MD, her medical oncologist.

Ms. Benedict also expressed gratitude to Dr. Wagman's “fabulous” nurse, Sally Apollon, as well as Saint Barnabas radiation therapists Vonda Roney, Kelly Sheridan, John Tirado and Kyisha Brannon. She said that they “treated me daily with care and compassion.” She also sites Angela McCabe, L.C.S.W., O.S.W.-C., Director of Psychosocial Support Services and Community Outreach, as a source of support as she fought for her life.

“I benefited tremendously from meetings with Angela...and from art therapy and reflexology offered through The Cancer Center,” Ms. Benedict said.

She remains grateful to every single person at Saint Barnabas who contributed to her treatment and recovery.

“Everyone genuinely cared about me and my family,” Ms. Benedict said. “Everyone contributed toward my healing. Everyone treated me with kindness and respect....I felt that they were my family for the entire time of my treatment. They not only healed my body, but they comforted me and hugged me and made me laugh and held my hand and allowed me to keep my sanity and my dignity and my hope.”