Barb's Healing Journey

Hi, I’m Joan Rough. As some of you know, our friend, yoga teacher, and one of my most favorite people in the world (I know I’m not alone here.) has been diagnosed with sebaceous cell carcinoma of the eyelid. This is a very rare, aggressive, and deadly cancer with a high incidence of metastasis. There is no chemo treatment for it and the tumor is too large for radiation to be effective. The recommended treatment is an exenteration, a very radical surgical procedure to remove her right eyeball, contents of the eye socket, including both eyelids and, of course, the tumor. In Barb’s words, “It kinda gives a whole new meaning to the phrase ‘I need that like I need a hole in the head!’”  Yes, even in tears, she still has her beguiling sense of humor.

 Wherever Barb has lived, she’s been an important part of the community.  In Austin, Texas she co-founded and directed Yoga House; taught yoga classes to inmates at the Federal Correctional Institution in Bastrop, Texas; and helped develop, administer and instruct a year-long teacher training and apprenticeship program at her studio. Here in the Charlottesville community, Barb has taught affordable classes in yoga, meditation, and breath work at her downtown studio, simplyYOGA, as well as at Common Ground, and the city’s Parks and Recreation Department.  She is also known for her drumming talents and political activism. She has been paying it forward through her work for years and it’s our time to help her through her Healing Journey.

 I know all of you are as devastated as I am by this news, but hope abounds. A small group of her friends, including myself, are in the process of helping Barb through this difficult time.

 As you know, Barb is self-employed so there is no medical leave other than her own personal reserves, and that has been rapidly dwindling as she has been out of work now for two weeks. Between doctor’s appointments, various scans, blood work, follow-ups and second opinions (not to mention emotional ups and downs), impending surgery and recovery, it is nearly impossible for Barb to make herself fully present to all of her yoga classes so she will likely be out of work through the month of March, if not longer.

 While she has no income, these funds will be used to help Barb pay her monthly bills, buy groceries and household goods, keep the studio running, put gas in her car, pay insurance co-pays and treatments not covered by health insurance. Any excess funds that are not used for Barb’s care will be donated to The Haven and Common Ground Healing Arts, two of her favorite local non-profits.

 So please join us by donating at this website (you can remain anonymous if you so choose) and/or checking out the Caring Bridge site here:

 http://www.caringbridge.org/visit/barbgermershausen

 In both locations, you can get updates on her healing and recovery, leave personal comments and read about Barb’s journey through her own eloquent words. This will cut down on the amount of personal emails for Barb to read and process.

 Thank you so much for your generous support. As Barb would say at the end of each class,

“I honor the light within…namasté.”