Canopy opened in 2016 inside Memorial Hermann The Woodlands Medical Center. Focused on the aftercare and support of anyone affected by cancer, Doris said she has seen and felt the life-changing experience that the center provides.
“This has been one wonderful place,” she said in an interview. “Julie opened my eyes to it after she experienced such beauty up here. The smiles, the love they give her, I just watch her eyes light up, and I know that it is healthy for her. For her to experience that kind of joy right now, it means a whole lot to me.”
Marcella Herrera, program manager for Canopy, said the center is all about supporting mind, body and wellness through various activities, counseling, support groups and care.
Herrera said some of the most popular classes include chair yoga, pilates, nutrition, and a discussion class called coffee and support, where guests get a chance to talk to other cancer patients or survivors.
Starting out with only 10 volunteers and 18 programs, Canopy has grown to include 54 volunteers, 40 different programs and nearly 90 activities a month in 2023, said Kevin Quinn, Memorial Hermann senior media relations representative.
Herrera said the center has added 18 new programs since June 2022, including cancer orientation; cooking demonstrations and nutrition; pilates; meditation; grief education; legal workshops; and head shaving, where a licensed cosmetologist helps those experiencing hair loss.
Canopy partners with several organizations for services including the National Charity League, St. Jude’s, Starbucks, H-E-B and Montgomery County Food Bank.
“We couldn’t do this without our community,” Herrera said. “We are embraced here in The Woodlands, in Montgomery County. We have so many wonderful partnerships. ... We all work together to support each other because we want to be able to offer the finest support services.”
Canopy also offers a diverse range of support groups for cancer patients, caregivers and loved ones affected by a diagnosis. Herrera said the two newest support clubs are for patients diagnosed with Stage 4 cancer and widowers.
“Our mission, as well as the mission of Memorial Hermann, is to integrate cancer survivorship into the continuum of cancer care,” she said. “We want this to be a must for anyone impacted by cancer because they need more than just a doctor; they need support.”
All services, activities and support groups are free of charge for anyone impacted by cancer. Herrera said that includes men, women and children diagnosed with any form of cancer from anywhere in the world. Guests do not need to be patients of Memorial Hermann to receive support or visit the center.
Canopy sees an average of 850-900 guest encounters a month, Herrera said.
“All the counseling, all the resources, all the friendships and groups of unselfish, professional people at Canopy, it’s life-changing for someone with cancer,” Fuller said. “They could do so much more, but they are here, and I want other people to realize what they could have here—it’s a family.”
Canopy Cancer Survivorship Center
1120 Medical Plaza Drive, Ste. 250, Shenandoah
713-897-5939
Hours: 9 a.m.-4 p.m. Mon.-Thu., 9 a.m.-2 p.m. Fri., closed Sat.-Sun.
www.memorialhermann.org
Editor's note: The headline for this story was updated for clarity.
