Bill Oliver and his wife, Becky, got a couple of early looks at the Healing Garden near Forrest General’s Cancer Center that was named in their honor. Bill Oliver said the garden reminded him of a hymn.
Both times we did we kind of left here that it reminded us of one of our favorite hymns. It says, ‘Surely, the presence of the Lord is in this place. You can feel His mighty power and His grace.’”
Martha Dearman, executive director of the Forrest General Health Care Foundation, speaks to the audience about the Healing Garden.
The Becky and Bill Oliver Healing Garden was dedicated on Wednesday, June 12, in a ceremony hosted by the Forrest General Healthcare Foundation and Forrest General Hospital. Bill Oliver was a longtime CEO at Forrest General Hospital and president of the Healthcare Foundation until a year ago.
“We believe that hope is the beginning of healing,” he said to the audience that attended the dedication. “Without hope, it will be challenging. But then, we feel that hope starts when you begin to feel the presence of the Lord.
“We really do believe that your experience when you use the garden will be one of those aspects.”
Martha Dearman, executive director of Forrest General Healthcare Foundation, said the Healing Garden will have far-reaching effects.
Becky and Bill Oliver speak to the audience at the opening of the Healing Garden that was named in their honor.
“Everyone in the entire community will be impacted, but we built it near the Cancer Center so the patients, family, friends and staff have a moment to step aside and go to the gardens,” she said. “We intricately wired to be in nature for the healing. This gives them a chance to step outside, soothe your soul and be relaxing.”
The garden will be open every day from sunrise to sunset. The garden began as an idea in 2013, and construction only took 6½ months.
Included in the Healing Garden are the Bluebird Condos – a group of birdhouses made by campers at Camp Bluebird in 2015 – inspirational signs around the garden and a skylight sculpture by Andy Young.
The Becky and Bill Oliver Healing Garden is part of a Forrest General Healthcare Foundation project called “Together We Can … Advancing Cancer Care.” The project also included the renovations at the Cancer Center to create the new infusion center and family waiting area and to introduce the Patient Navigation Services Program.
For more information about Forrest General’s Cancer Center, visit forrestgeneral.com/cancer.