September is Childhood Cancer Awareness Month. During this month, we will share many lessons that our family has learned from childhood cancer.
Lesson Learned - Parents need support. . . Lots of it.
Parents traveling the journey of childhood cancer, or any childhood illness, needs lots of support. They need phone calls, text messages of support, and they need to be treated like a normal adult. Their day is surrounded by doctors, nurses, and reminders that their child is sick. they might want to have one conversation that does not include chemo or bodily fluids.
Now, every person is different. try this, ASK the person what they want to talk about. The parent might be having a day where they need to vent about the nurse that woke up their child 5 times last night. Or maybe they want to be updated on your favorite television show, or what happened in the school carpool lane at school drop off.
If you are a parent, and you need an escape, ask for one. If you have the option to leave the hospital, you can still go out and get a mani pedi or an escape to the mall for a bit. If you can't leave the hospital, it does get a bit harder. But even asking someone to sit with your child while you go for a walk is okay.
An amazing parent that went through the childhood cancer journey with his son started the Brain Candy Project. This organization supports parents who are staying in the hospital with their children.
Don't forget, if you need help ASK!! and if you know a parent OFFER TO HELP. or just call. remind them that they do have friends that they can reach out to.
Now, every person is different. try this, ASK the person what they want to talk about. The parent might be having a day where they need to vent about the nurse that woke up their child 5 times last night. Or maybe they want to be updated on your favorite television show, or what happened in the school carpool lane at school drop off.
If you are a parent, and you need an escape, ask for one. If you have the option to leave the hospital, you can still go out and get a mani pedi or an escape to the mall for a bit. If you can't leave the hospital, it does get a bit harder. But even asking someone to sit with your child while you go for a walk is okay.
An amazing parent that went through the childhood cancer journey with his son started the Brain Candy Project. This organization supports parents who are staying in the hospital with their children.
Don't forget, if you need help ASK!! and if you know a parent OFFER TO HELP. or just call. remind them that they do have friends that they can reach out to.
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