THE POWER OF A DREAM! Five years ago, our friend’s daughter, Sara Johnson was diagnosed with Acute Lymphocytic Leukemia, just two weeks before she was to get married. I encourage everyone to read her story here. Sara and I began to journal her life at Fairview Hospital. We mapped out a business plan of how we could greatly impact the social and physical protocol of treatment for women going through cancer in a non-clinical setting. We were going to build a place that would give women every amenity they need to continue their outward beauty, and satisfy the craving for the social healing that is found outside the walls of their hospital rooms. the dance wellness center, health spa and salon was named, trademarked, and put in a file drawer after Sara died in 2002. How was I going to raise money for this multi-million-dollar campus? One person...and without Sara? I closed the file drawer and for the next four years poured myself back into my corporate job in Minneapolis, until I received a phone call from my sister, who had the idea of opening a really fun, trendy shop for women in our hometown of Buffalo. We ditched our corporate jobs, and in just under two years, we are celebrating the grand-opening of our twelfth Lillians location in Minnesota and Wisconsin. It was at Lillians that the two worlds collided. One by one, women going through cancer treatment came into Lillians and stayed for hours. Some had hair; others didn’t. Some wore makeup; others didn’t. Some you knew were sick; others you didn’t. They stayed... and stayed... and stayed. It was at Lillians that the laughter returned, the smiles inspired, and the social healing began to take place. It was there that I knew it was time. Today plans are in place to build the first-of-its-kind, five-star wellness center equipped with all the amenities a woman could dream of who crave the social healing and human connection outside their drug therapy treatment and medical care. They will enjoy an unparalleled combination of the largest spa, salon, and wellness center in the United States to a first-class fitness center and education facility. They will indulge in a red carpet and white glove experience with extended shopping galleries, indoor and outdoor dining, heated and cooled therapeutic pools, a sports complex, walking paths, an equine center, a wine bar and specially designed overnight accommodations. With its remarkable natural beauty, rolling hills, and temperate environment, Medina, Minnesota, has emerged as a possible setting for this ultimate wellness center. Lake Minnetonka is a beautiful body of water that extends to several waterways and would be ideal for canoeing, kayaking, and relaxing lakeside. Stillwater, nestled in the bluffs of the St. Croix River, is a growing community with a small town feel. The possibilities are endless in terms of location in this wonderful metropolitan area. Five years ago, I thought I had the super-human ability to 'do it all.' I quickly learned that I couldn’t, so I assembled a group of passionate women who have emerged as the ‘powerhouse’ I needed to put this plan into action. They are relentless and riveted in the power of this dream. I also have learned that asking for help is a sign of strength, not weakness. That being said, we need two things - land and money. Our goal is to have land secured by our second fundraising event on October 26, 2007. From there we break ground and begin to build. And in the fall of 2009, a request will be made to bring Garth Brooks front and center stage at our Grand Opening of the dance wellness center! It will be life changing.