Decompressing

In the midst of medical chaos, there are several places where you can go to relax and decompress.

  • On the 8th floor of the Yawkey Building is the Ulfelder Healing Garden. Weather permitting, you can sit outside on the roof deck, watching the sailboats on the Charles River or taking in a unique bird's eye view of the Boston skyline. The indoor garden is a quiet place to re-collect yourself, read a book, or chat with friends. (See, Healing Garden for more information.)

  • Yawkey 8C is home to the Maxwell V. Blum Cancer Resource Center. The Resource Center is staffed by members of the Social Work Department, and is both a lending medical library and a comfortable hangout for CancerCenter patients and their families. [(617) 724-1822, Toll Free: (866) 724-6737]

    • Computers are available free of charge, so you can pick up your email, search the internet, or just play solitaire;

    • There is also a fax and a copy machine available for your use (you can even receive faxes there, at no cost);

    • If you need to keep in touch with out-of-town family or friends, they have two telephones available for short, free calls;

    • They also have several comfy, reclining chairs in case you want to take a short nap;

    • You are welcome to stop in for a cup of coffee, tea, or hot chocolate; and, on Wednesdays at 2PM they sponsor "tea time" ... an opportunity to enjoy a piece of cake, fruit, or other goodies;

  • Hidden in the Bulfinch basement is the Warren Library, the oldest general hospital library in the country. Since few people even know this library exists, it is a good place to go to "get away".

    • The library offers seven daily newspapers, a large selection of magazines, videotapes and over 10,000 books of all types, including best sellers; they are all available for borrowing free of charge. The library's phone number is (617) 726-2253.

  • If you are a CancerCenter patient, you can also take advantage of the Wellness Center at MGH, located in the Charles River Park apartment complex across Blossom Street from the Cox, Gray and Jackson Buildings.

    • The Center is a full-service health club, including cardio and strength training equipment, pilates and yoga classes, and two swimming pools (one outdoor and one indoor);

    • Temporary membership costs $20/week per person or $30/week per family;

    • For more information, call John Buckingham, Membership Director, (617) 726-7694.

  • The Hopes Program also offers acupuncture and therapeutic massage treatments to CancerCenter patients.

    • The licensed acupuncturists and massage therapists provide one-hour sessions for $55.00 each.

    • For information or to make an appointment, call the Hopes Program at: (617) 724-6737.

Outside the Hospital

If you want to take a walk outside of the hospital complex, you can stroll along the banks of the Charles River.

  • Leave MGH through the Cox, Gray or Warren Buildings. Walk over the footbridge to the other side of Storrow Drive, and enter the parking lot; then, follow the path along the River;

  • There are lots of benches along the way, so you can stop to watch the boats, ducks and other amphibious critters;

  • If you continue walking, you will find yourself at the famed Hatch Shell on the Esplanade (home of the Boston Pops and the Fourth of July Fireworks).
Another walking destination is the Boston Public Garden.

  • From the Yawkey Building, head down Charles Street (there is a CVS Pharmacy on the corner);

  • When you get to the median triangle, you will be at the intersection of Charles and Beacon Street. Cross Beacon Street and enter the Public Garden (to the right);

  • It can be very calming to watch the swans (we have a nesting pair of swans, "Romeo" and "Juliet", who spend the Spring - Fall in the Public Garden) and the swan boats paddling around the pond; or, to stroll along the flower beds and manicured bushes; or, to sit on a bench under a 200 hundred year old willow tree.

   A quick note about walking around Boston ... although Boston is a very walkable city, you should be aware that Boston drivers are notoriously ill mannered. They often view traffic control signals -- such as red lights -- as merely advisory rather than mandatory. Though pedestrians are supposed to have the right of way in a crosswalk, do not assume that cars will actually stop to let you cross the street. If one car does stop for you, do not assume that cars in the adjacent travel lane will also stop. So, just exercise a bit of caution when crossing streets ... even if you are at a crosswalk and have a walk signal, make sure the cars have actually stopped before you head off the sidewalk!