Geri Barish, a five-time cancer survivor, has turned personal tragedy into a mission to support cancer patients and their families through Hewlett House, a free resource center she founded in 2000.
Having lost her son Michael to Hodgkin’s lymphoma in 1986 and her mother to breast cancer in 1974, Barish wanted to fight for patients’ rights and learn more about cancer’s causes.
Barish founded Hewlett House on East Rockaway Road in Hewlett as a resource for those with cancer and their families.
“Hewlett House is just the most incredible place, it’s the only one in the nation,” Barish said. “We’re a totally free service and I’m so proud of that, nobody here takes a salary.”
Hewlett House’s property is the oldest farmhouse on Long Island, built 387 years ago, according to Barish.
“We have serviced over 40,000 people with no charge,” Barish said.
There are a variety of free services available including arts, crafts, yoga, meditation, support groups, advice from medical lawyers and informational services.
“I’m so proud of what we do here, everything is confidential we go strictly by the HIPAA laws,” Barish said.
Free blankets, hats, scarves, undergarments, wigs and a host of other necessary items are offered. Exercise, home improvement information, music therapy, pet therapy and support groups are available for clients.
Ronald Cohen, psychologist and family therapist started working at Hewlett House 15 years ago and runs groups for significant others and family members.
“It truly is a joy for me to share the story of so many people, and help empower these people to see cancer as an opportunity to grow,” Cohen said. “My goal is to help people find a better voice as they navigate this journey.”
He treats patients in various stages of cancer and uses the groups to help the patients access their strengths through illness.
“I developed a sense of tremendous fulfillment, walking out of there four times a week it’s very grounding to me,” Cohen said. “It brings out the better me and I find my better self by working with them and appreciate the valuable things in life.”
Over the years, Barish has helped push for and create legislation defraying the cost of cancer-related medical bills. While fighting four bouts of cancer, she led environmental studies on Long Island to diminish the use of pesticides and label the carcinogenic ones.
“There are so many things we’ve learned over the years, we work on legislation, we’re fighting right now for Medicare to pay for ultrasounds,” Barish said.
Hewlett House can get anyone a screening within 24 to 48 hours and gives three different specialist referrals, Barish said.
“It’s been a blessing in disguise, Hewlett House, if these walls could talk they’d cry,” Barish said. “We’ve seen too many funerals, but we’ve also seen miracles.”
When Hewlett House first opened, they only helped those with breast cancer —now they see people with all types of cancer.
Barish was first diagnosed with breast cancer in 1986, one week before her son died.
“If I knew then what I know now, a lot of things would have been different,” Barish added.
After her first diagnosis, Barish had a lumpectomy, and then had a single mastectomy, chemotherapy and radiation her second and third time. In 2015, she was diagnosed with both lung cancer and melanoma.
“I feel that when I’m here at Hewlett House, people come in and I listen to their day and help them get though their battles, in the back of my mind I always hear the same thing, ‘Michael I promise you, I will find out why you had cancer,’” Barish said. “That’s why I keep going.”
For more information about Hewlett House, call (516) 374-2385.
