For nearly 20 years, Sandra Soules has been a familiar face at Providence Queen of the Valley Medical Center, volunteering in the oncology and breast centers alongside her husband, Joe. After completing radiation therapy for cancer, Sandra’s oncologist suggested that volunteering might be a meaningful way to give back. The suggestion sparked a lasting commitment.

What started as helping at the front desk evolved into something much deeper when the couple discovered therapy dogs. Inspired by what they saw during a trip to Scotland, Sandra and Joe adopted two Scottish Border Collies — Oor Wullie and Dolce Bella — who became beloved therapy dogs through the PAWS for Healing program.

“I had never seen therapy dogs in the hospital before,” Sandra recalls. “I thought, ‘We’ve got to do that back home.’” The dogs brought joy not just to patients but to staff throughout the hospital, creating moments of respite from the intensity of caregiving.

Caring for Others Through Giving Back

It was witnessing a patient’s devastating financial losses, including their job, home and possessions during treatment, that inspired Sandra and Joe’s determination to make a larger impact. “I said to my husband, ‘We have to do something to help these people,’” Sandra explains. “You shouldn’t have to lose everything when you’re going through this.”

Working with Senior Planned Giving Officer Damon Tinnon, Sandra discovered she could make the substantial gift she’d always dreamed of through a donation of real estate. “Sandra used to say she needed to win the lottery to help people,” Damon notes. “The amazing thing is she’s making this huge gift with no lottery ticket needed.”

“We found [the process of making a planned gift] incredibly easy,” Sandra says. “Especially when you think
of what the gift has the potential to do.”

The result is the Soules Family Cancer Wellness Program, named to honor Sandra’s parents, who instilled in her the values of caring for others. “My mother and father believed that you take care of people,” Sandra reflects. “This is my way of trying to do that.”

The Cancer Wellness Program

Queen of the Valley Medical Center’s 12-week Cancer Wellness Program is supported by Queen of the Valley
Foundation and generous donations from the Napa community and is available via physician referral to Queen of the Valley patients and Napa County residents (regardless of where they receive their cancer treatment).

The mission of the program is to support patients through treatment by strengthening their bodies, enriching their minds and nurturing their spirits. Participants receive:

• A three-month membership at Active Wellness Center Napa, which includes access to group classes such as yoga, Pilates, meditation and aquatic exercise
• Consultation with a registered dietician to improve nutritional health
• Guidance from a physical therapist to develop a personalized exercise program aimed at increasing energy and fighting fatigue
• Individual counseling sessions with a licensed therapist or meditative wellness coach to promote well-being and help manage stress
• Individual sessions with a Rosen Method/Comfort Touch practitioner to enhance body awareness and relaxation
• Information on community resources and organizations that serve the needs of cancer survivors
• Private meetings with a spiritual care minister

Reflecting on her decision to honor her parents with this estate gift, Sandra recalls her career as an elementary school teacher. “When you see a kid struggling, you have to look at that child and try to figure out what’s going on. How can I help this kid? That’s what my parents always did, and it’s how I strive to be.”