Raised on the east coast of South Africa Johnnette’s first experience of the benefits of massage for cancer patients was in 1994 following her mother’s diagnosis. With the objective to pay-forward the kindness her family had been beneficiary of during her mother’s illness she enrolled in a massage therapy training program, completed Hospice volunteer orientation, and began providing comfort-oriented massage for people nearing the end of life. Shortly after joining the massage therapy team at Spa Gregorie’s, Newport Beach, CA, in 2003, she became one of the first Greet The Day volunteers and is passionate about improving the quality of life and experience of cancer treatment for adults, children and families living with cancer.

Johnnette’s role within Greet The Day includes helping each therapist find his or her optimal pathway into the specialized area of integrative oncology care, and supporting the integration of massage therapy and skin care as standard care for people living with cancer.