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(HealthNewsDigest.com) – Cleveland, – One of the most difficult challenges for those facing cancer is telling their young children or grandchildren that they are sick. Avoiding the conversation can be harmful. Approaching it without careful thought can leave scars that may never heal.
That’s why a well-respected cancer support center has designed a unique, customizable tool to help.
“Someone I Love is Sick” is the first tool of its kind designed to help children ages two through six cope with a parent’s or grandparent’s cancer. It uses colorful, age-appropriate illustrations and simple statements that focus on the feelings and realities of cancer situations in a non-threatening manner. The tool is meant to offer educational information while initiating a safe, open conversation between parent and child during every point of the cancer journey, from diagnosis to treatment, recurrence, hospitalization, and end of life.
The book’s pages are unbound, so parents and professionals can arrange pages based on the stage of the cancer journey and the family’s specific situation. Oft-addressed emotions and questions are explored, including “Can I catch cancer?” “Mommy will be getting a special treatment,” and “Did I cause your cancer?”
The innovative tool, whose proceeds will support those touched by cancer, is already earning accolades.
“Now that I am a dad, I can really understand how difficult it would be as a parent trying to help young children understand cancer,” says Lance Armstrong, seven-time winner of the Tour de France, cancer survivor and father of three. “This book offers a unique method of helping parents communicate with their own children. It is truly empowering.”
“Someone I Love is Sick” was developed by The Gathering Place, an Ohio cancer support center that provides free programs and services to those touched by cancer. The book is authored by Kathleen McCue, The Gathering Place’s director of children’s programming, the author of “How to Help Children Through a Parent’s Serious Illness” and a child life specialist with more than 30 years of experience devoted to the mental health of children facing medical situations.
“A parent’s cancer diagnosis is more frequent than abuse, more widespread than natural disaster and more common than automobile accidents, yet resources designed to assist families and children are extremely limited and often not age appropriate,” says McCue. “A severe parental illness can cause children distress and developmental problems, but when managed well, the family crisis can produce resiliency and strength.”
The Gathering Place is donating “Someone I Love is Sick” to more than 500 hospitals and cancer centers nationwide for professionals to use with patients and their families. The public can purchase either the parents’ or grandparents’ version of the book for $21.95 at www.SomeoneILoveisSick.com or by phone at 216.595.9546.
All proceeds will support those touched by cancer by funding the free programs and services offered at The Gathering Place. Additional tips and resources are available at Someone I Love is Sick
ABOUT THE GATHERING PLACE
The Gathering Place is a non-profit, community-based cancer support center that focuses on the social, emotional, physical and spiritual needs of individuals with cancer and their family and friends. With programs provided free of charge, The Gathering Place’s services are designed to complement traditional medicine with a mind-body-spirit approach. Since its inception, The Gathering Place has helped more than 18,500 people touched by cancer with more than 94,000 visits. Visit The Gathering Place online at www.touchedbycancer.org.
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