Meet Johnnette du Rand of Greet The Day

Today we’d like to introduce you to Johnnette du Rand.

Johnnette, let’s start with your story. We’d love to hear how you got started and how the journey has been so far.
Within just a few months of getting my massage therapy license and joining the therapist team at Spa Gregorie’s, Newport Beach, CA, in 2003, then General Manager Scott Duncan put a call out for volunteers to help start a community outreach program for cancer survivors.

It was to be called Greet The Day. The moment I heard this I knew I had found “home”.

With the support and guidance of Scott Duncan and Christine “Tinka” Hrountas MD, herself a cancer survivor, Greet The Day was incorporated as a nonprofit organization in 2005 and in addition to the inaugural spa based program, Greet The Day programs have since then grown to include professional education and in- and outpatient massage programs at two academic hospitals and numerous cancer treatment centers.

Has it been a smooth road?
One of my first experiences of massage was after my mother’s cancer diagnosis in 1994. The highlight during that year, her last, were the weekly massage therapy home visits gifted by a family friend. At that time even although I did not understand why it was very apparent that after the massage visits my mom was more comfortable and receptive to visitors, communicated more and rested better.

Even though I could not recognize it at the time, with the benefit of hindsight I can see now how the challenging life hurdles that came up for me early on were all a necessary part of my path. It would take me another 4 years before I did my first massage class.

One of the ongoing challenges has been balancing the need to pay-the-rent and working toward a heart-felt cause. That still requires planning-for-balance but the sacrifices made early on have paved the way for where we are today.

So, as you know, we’re impressed with Greet The Day – tell our readers more, for example what you’re most proud of as a company and what sets you apart from others.
Greet The Day provides, at no charge to the patient, massage for people in cancer treatment. Our oncology-trained massage and skin care therapists’ work with patients in in- and outpatient center settings providing comforting, safe, therapeutic touch for patients while they are in the process of receiving their cancer treatment.

Being witness to the benefits of oncology massage and the changing paradigm in health care delivery that Greet the Day has affected within the communities we work in has been humbling and awe-inspiring. Being of service has been my greatest gift to myself, and personally and professionally I feel so very fulfilled with the work I do.

Greet The Day programs complement medical care and have provided thousands of hours of integrative care for people living with cancer. The organization is committed to working in close collaboration with a multi-disciplinary team of oncology trained massage therapists, estheticians, clinical staff, physicians, nurses, patient navigators and social workers.

It takes a village and with the passion, talent and dedication of inspired board members, therapists, community collaborators and staff we have effected a change in the delivery of health care within our community Our local university hospital has funded multiple oncology massage education programs for their oncology nursing staff and UCI and USC now also fund our weekly inpatient massage programs.

We are also in conversation with two additional hospitals about setting up oncology massage programs for them too. Many clinicians today recognize how massage as nonpharmacological method can complement analgesics and be effective as part of pain management and/or palliative care, and can help the body feel better even when it’s not feeling good.

Let’s touch on your thoughts about our city – what do you like the most and least?
I love the vibrancy, creativeness, and opportunity for change our city presents. The traffic is something I could live without.

Pricing:

• $150 provides for a class teaching family and friends how they can provide hands-on nurturing touch for their loved ones who are not feeling well
• $250 provides bedside massage for two hospitalized patients easing their pain, anxiety and feelings of isolation
• $350 provides comforting hand and foot massage for 8-10 people receiving chemotherapy treatment in the infusion center

Contact Info:

• Website: www.GreetTheDay.org
• Email: info@greettheday.org
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/oncologymassage/

Getting in touch: VoyageLA is built on recommendations from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you know someone who deserves recognition please let us know here.