Elephants and Tea Virtual Happy Hour

Elephants and Tea hosts a weekly happy hour online. We use this time to come together on Zoom to hang out with our peers from the AYA Cancer community.

ABOUT ELEPHANTS AND TEA HAPPY HOURS

While the elephant in the room is cancer, we may occasionally address “that elephant” head-on, but often we talk about everything under the sun EXCEPT cancer. Join our two-hour virtual weekly hang outs to laugh, cry, eat, listen, or just simply enjoy the company of others who “get it”.

One thing is for sure, whether your beverage of choice is tea, water, milk, juice, coffee, chai, boba, or something more adult, you will definitely feel the relief the conversations bring! This social group of friends knows what it’s like to face cancer and we’re here to do it together.

WHO ATTENDS?

Everyone in the AYA cancer community is welcome to attend as they are, from whatever stage of the process they are in and from wherever they are! We start at 5:30 pm Eastern Time (US) and continue for two hours. All are welcome to come and go as they are able.

This group of people from primarily the United States and Canada started meeting weekly for only an hour on Friday evenings and quickly became a chosen family for many.

Can’t sleep because of your treatments? Stuck in the hospital? Exhausted and don’t want to talk but don’t want to be alone either? Join us anyway!

"Share this event with an AYA you know!
We absolutely cannot wait for you to join our herd!"

Liz Hiles

Happy Hour Coordinator

Liz Hiles is a bladder cancer survivor and urostomate living in Cincinnati, Ohio. She is a Contributor & Moderator with Health Union, a Freelance Writer for the West River Eagle, and, of course, the Happy Hour Coordinator for Elephants & Tea. Liz takes on Happy Hours with over 30 years of facilitating various groups and over 5 years of explicitly leading cancer and ostomy groups. Her goal for each and every Happy Hour is to provide a safe, welcoming virtual space for everyone to join in the conversations to be distracted, entertained, and supported in a relaxed, social virtual environment.

Kayla Fulginiti, LCSW, OSW-C

Senior Director

Kayla Fulginiti is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker and Senior Director at Elephants and Tea. She has always pursued her passion to improve the quality of life of AYA patients through multiple roles, including over 10 years in hospital pediatric oncology, co-chairing an AYA Task Force responsible for assessing and raising awareness about AYA needs through community engagement, and serving on advisory boards for various nonprofit organizations. Kayla has been involved in the nonprofit space for over 7 years, having multiple roles such as Program Manager and Program Director within the youth suicide prevention community and AYA cancer community. Kayla lives with her husband, son, and their boxer rescue – Blue Cheese – in Denver, Colorado. She adamantly believes Taco Tuesday should be Taco Every Day, will always choose Summer over Winter, and is still on the hunt for the best gluten free donut.

HAPPY HOUR TESTIMONIALS

"When I was spiraling, this group helped me find a firm foundation again. I didn't realize how hard being a cancer survivor was because I was already a survivor, but since I was so young with my first diagnosis, I didn't have to go through the mental trauma the first time. This group helped me get through some hard days, and I'm lucky to call them friends for life."

"Participating in Elephants and Tea Happy Hour has changed my life. I have made absolutely incredible friends, who have helped me get through some of the hardest times in my life and celebrated the best times in my life with me. It is a safe space to talk about silly things, like the best hotdog topping, and serious things, like scanxiety. It is a place where people "get it." I look forward to Friday nights for deep belly laughs, bad jokes, and spending time with friends both old and new."

"Throughout treatment, I was really intimidated by support groups (for many reasons). However, I craved connection to others my age going through similar things. Upon finishing treatment, that became much more acute and I started going to happy hour. It felt like the perfect fit. They say, "we aren't a support group, but we're supportive" and that's very true. It's a place where your cancer can exist, but not be the main topic, unless you want it to be. Everyone is so welcoming, and the vibe is very relaxed. Come to chat, come with your camera off, take a nap, go have dinner and come back.... we're here for it! The friends I've made through happy hour are so meaningful to me."

"At first I was nervous to go to Happy Hour, but once I started going it felt like I had known these people for years. Once you try it out, you'll look forward to it every week!"

"Going through cancer treatment was such an isolating experience, especially when there were no local AYA groups around. I was very lucky to have found the Elephants tribe, who have cheered me up and welcomed me with open arms/trunks. My favorite parts of the discussions were when we made up our own stories and imaginary worlds and where cancer survivors were the heroes. I always look forward to hanging out with the tribe to wrap up the week."

"This group has been integral in my emotional recovery post cancer. I have met lifelong friends and found the support my non-cancer friends and family could not provide."

"I look forward to Fridays, because I know I’ll be logging on at 4:30(CT) for Elephant’s and Tea’s Happy Hour. I enjoy conversing with others that get it. We don’t have to define the many whys that tend to come up in regular conversations. We laugh, talk, connect, and sometimes fall asleep. Happy Hour has become more than a weekly zoom meetup for me. I love that there is no agenda: everyone comes and goes as we please. I usually take a break for dinner or to put my kids to bed and come back later. People are usually still on and hanging out…It’s always a great way to start my weekend."

Elephants and Tea Happy Hour

ABOUT ELEPHANTS AND TEA HAPPY HOURS

WHO ATTENDS?

HAPPY HOUR TESTIMONIALS

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