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10 Ways that YOU
Can Help a Family Battling Childhood Cancer
Often,
when we learn that a friend, family member, or neighbour has
a child who has just been diagnosed with cancer, we don't
know what to say or how to begin to help.
This list, compiled from
experience and from suggestions given by the director of A
Lion In the House, Julia Reichert, offers
10 ways
that you can best help your friends, family, or neighbors
who have kids with cancer
.
(Please also remember that cancer treatments can span a long
stretch of time--even years!--so extend your hand to help as
often as you are able!)
1.
Help with house chores:.
Families often don't have time to take care of these little
chores, and having a trustworthy friend help out on this end
can be an incredible relief.
2.
Volunteer to cook a meal:
Even better, offer to make a bunch of meals that can be
frozen and heated up quickly as needed. Find out what the
patient & his/her family really like to eat. Also remember
that chemotherapy can cause painful mouth sores, so try to
make a couple of meals that are not spicy, tangy or acidic!
3.
Arrange for transportation support (Great
solution for co-workers, church members, other group
members):
Whether a family has to commute 4 hours or 20 minutes to the
hospital, a free service or travel assistance can help
alleviate the added problem and often high cost of daily
travel. .
4.
Offer to baby-sit:
Caregivers need a break, so offer to sit with the child and
read, watch a movie, or keep them company while they sleep
at the hospital or at home. Also, parents may need
babysitters for younger siblings while their child is at the
hospital or clinic receiving treatment.
5.
(For
teachers)
Arrange to send notes/drawings for the kid with cancer
: Receiving
mail from classmates and friends can really brighten a
child's day and warm up a stark hospital or hotel room. One
homeroom teacher arranged to have paper and markers in the
front of the classrooms, so that the child's friends could
write a card for her at any time. The child received a batch
of cards from her friends every week, and it always cheered
her up!
6.
Ideas for gifts:
1. Extra pairs of soft pajamas : button-up fronts and
low pockets make it easier to deal with IV lines and
spontaneous doctor exams.
2. Slipper socks
3. A special, soft blanket or squishy pillow
(the blankets and pillows at the hospital are not that
comfy!)
4. Activity books or books to read: there's a lot of
hurry up and wait on treatment days or while the patient is
hospitalized. Find out what the child likes to read and do
for fun.
5. Teddy bear or something huggable.
7.
Appoint a spokesperson:
Families are often bombarded by calls to check up on the
child's condition. Work with the family to appoint a
spokesperson at church or school to be the go-to-person for
information and updates.
8.
Siblings need attention, too:
When the sick child is confined to the house, offer to take
the other siblings on a walk, window-shopping, or to the
movies. Find out what the siblings like to do. Don't pry the
child with questions about the family, but be ready to
listen and reassure.
9.
Listen and Be Sensitive:
Don't wear the parents out with questions. Don't bring up
tough questions unless the parents/caregivers offer to go
there. If a parent has lost a child, don't say "Well, she/he
is in a better place now." or "I know how you feel." Most
parents feel that there is no better place for their child
than with his/her family, and unless you really have lost a
child yourself, you can't possibly understand.
10.
Stay in touch! Don't
avoid the family because you don't know what to say or do.
If you're nervous, send a card! If you want to help and
don't know what to do, ask someone who is close to the
family. |
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Some
Related
Links |
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Bone Cancer International, Inc.
- Offers links to specific types of bone cancer, bulletin board, chat room and an
"Ask the Experts" section.
Cancer Help
- Provides a list of cancer related web-sites, bulletin boards and chat groups.
CancerNet (NCI)
- Contains a current, credible, and comprehensive cancer information from the National Cancer Institute.
Cancer News on the Net
- Brings latest information on cancer diagnosis, treatment and prevention.
The Cancer Survivor's Toolkit
- A free set of audio tapes to help cancer survivors learn how to communicate, find information, solve
problems and help. Developed by the National Coalition for Cancer Survivorship.
Laura's Hope
- A non-profit organization with a program to help cancer treatment patients through using their laptop
computers, primarily focusing on patients with extended hospital stays.
Surviving a Brain Tumor by Steve
DePesa - is a patient and caregivers' guide to coping with cancer
Tracking a Cancer Cure>
Women's Cancer Network
The Association of Cancer Online Resources
(ACOR)
National Brain Tumor Foundation
National Childhood Cancer Foundation
Cancer Directory
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