A SPACE TO HEAL

JOHN & MARCHITA COOK SUPPORT SPIRITUAL, EMOTIONAL, MENTAL WELL-BEING

Imagine a one-of-a-kind facility that will provide customized programs and resources to help patients and their families live healthier lives after being diagnosed with or experiencing a life-changing illness. Thanks to a lead gift from philanthropists John and Marchita Cook, that dream of advancing community wellness will soon become a reality at Houston Methodist The Woodlands Hospital. “Living longer isn’t the same thing as living well,” says John Cook. “We want to do what we can to help offer hope and healing. Any time a person is experiencing a serious illness, there is anxiety and apprehension because of the unknown. The HEAL (Health Education and Learning) program will fill a void.” Each patient referred to the HEAL program will receive personalized attention to discuss the best resources and wellness programs available to them and their caregivers. Empowering tools will include a teaching kitchen for cooking lessons for families, patient education materials, support groups, community education workshops, and exercise classes to help manage stress and build mental and physical strength. For John and Marchita Cook, the HEAL program’s emphasis on supporting spiritual, emotional and mental well-being — along with physical health — is significant. They share they are also impressed by the focus on caregiver support and healthy habits, including nutrition. “The HEAL program will support all health conditions with carefully planned access to care,” says Marchita Cook. “For each patient and family, this will mean something different.”

The Houston Methodist The Woodland’s team focuses on leading medicine by offering a full spectrum approach to health and wellness that expands beyond traditional care. The vision is an all-encompassing journey that combines medicine with an emphasis on whole body wellness to improve quality of life for patients and the community. “We are deeply grateful for the Cook family’s significant support,” says Debra Sukin, CEO of Houston Methodist The Woodlands Hospital and regional senior vice president of Houston Methodist. “As a health care leader in our community, we believe in our promise to offer the highest quality of patient care possible and see a future where we will set a new standard by bringing the next generation of health care excellence to our community.” Dr. Randall Wright, medical director of Brain Wellness at Houston Methodist The Woodlands, adds that the hospital is redefining the concept of health. “In the past, we had a view that our health was only a direct result of our physical ailments,” says Dr. Wright. “We now recognize there are other factors involved in our well-being — psychological and emotional states, nutritional status and the amount of sleep we get. Such factors contribute to our overall well-being regardless of disease state. The HEAL program will be a place that allows us to address our patients’ overall needs and truly enhance their quality of life so that they can live well.”