Sam Albert, a recreational therapist at Roger Nielson Children's Hospice, shares her experience supporting families and siblings through treatment and end of life care. Sam shares personal stories of growing up with a brother who had cancer, the impact of grief, and the importance of validating the sibling's experience. The conversation also emphasizes the significance of peer support among siblings and the creative ways they express their emotions.

Sam explores the profound experiences of supporting families in palliative care, emphasizing the importance of creating lasting memories, the privilege of holding space for families during their hardest moments, and the unique emotional journey caregivers undergo. The discussion highlights the beauty found in love amidst grief, the impact of personal experiences on caregiving, and also touches on the examination of belief systems and the diverse needs of families after the loss of a child.

https://www.rogerneilsonchildrenshospice.ca/

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In this chat, Scott Walker shares his family's journey through his teenage daughter's cancer diagnosis of rhabdomyosarcoma and treatment. He discusses the shock of receiving the diagnosis, the protective 'armor' parents wear, and the importance of finding moments of release. Scott emphasizes the significance of approaching treatment in phases, coping with the hair loss phase, and the vital role of team sports and community support in their journey. Scott shares the profound impact of team dynamics and community support during his daughter Peyton's cancer treatment. He emphasizes the importance of mutual support within teams, the significance of billeting, and the courage required to let go as a parent. The discussion highlights the role of community in fostering resilience and the emotional journey of navigating treatment while maintaining a sense of normalcy for Peyton. The conversation emphasizes teamwork, resilience, and the power of community in navigating difficult times.

March 31- April 4th is Adolescent and Young Adult Cancer Awareness Week. Here are some links to learn more:

https://www.childrenscancercause.org/ayaweek

https://acpmp.org/aya-cancer-awareness-week/

https://www.uhn.ca/PrincessMargaret/Clinics/Adolescent_Young_Adult_Oncology

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This conversation spans the epic journey of Shara and her wife Karen navigating their son's stage IV osteosarcoma diagnosis while immigrating to Canada. Friends from childhood, Shara and Karen grew up together in the Philippines. Their paths went in different directions, Shara to Canada where she’s a nurse, and Karen to becoming a psychologist, marrying and becoming a mother. Years later, when Karen was a single mom to Tim, still in the Philippines, she reconnected with Shara, and it didn’t take long for these lifelong friends to realize there was more to their connection. They fell in love, and you’ll hear Shara say, falling in love with Karen also meant falling in love with Tim, who was 7 at the time they reconnected.

As many families who are immigrating do, Karen immigrated to Canada first to be with Shara while they worked endlessly to get Tim’s paperwork approved so he could join them. It was one day over a FaceTime call that Tim told his moms that he banged his knee and there was a sore lump. After tests and scans, Shara and Karen were told over facetime from the Philippines that their son had stage IV osteosarcoma. Like all of us, their lives were instantly fractured and they were forced to navigate treatment on the other side of the world.

This conversation emphasizes the importance of hope, community support, and the unconditional love that drives parents to fight for their children's well-being. Shara's resilience and determination shine through as she recounts the struggles and triumphs of their journey, ultimately showcasing the power of love in overcoming adversity.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In today's conversation, Sarah Bailey shares her emotional journey as a single mother navigating the challenges of her daughter's leukemia diagnosis. The discussion covers her life before the diagnosis, the shock of receiving the news, the transition into a new reality, the importance of connection and support, and the complexities of parenting during treatment. Sarah emphasizes the loneliness of her experience and the significance of sharing her story to help others feel less isolated. Sarah discusses the overwhelming responsibilities of being both a medical parent and a regular parent, the emotional toll it takes, and the coping mechanisms she employs. The dialogue explores the importance of maintaining a sense of normalcy, the challenges of navigating the healthcare system, and the healing power of nature and movement. Sam and Sarah discuss how nature serves as a metaphor for resilience and healing, the importance of self-care for parents, and the lessons learned through hiking. Sarah shares her journey of dedicating hikes to raise awareness for childhood cancer and the significance of supporting siblings of cancer patients. The conversation emphasizes the healing power of nature and the importance of community support.

If you would like to follow along with Sarah and Bellamy's hikes, or have one dedicated to your child, you can reach out to Sarah on instagram at @bellamywillwin

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In today’s episode, medical mom and mindset coach Cortney Given shares her experience as a “heart mom” to daughter Zola who was diagnosed with hypo plastic left heart syndrome during Cortney’s pregnancy, and required her first heart surgery when she was only 36 hours old. Cortney has since become a coach and leader in the medical parent community, supporting parents through their child’s diagnoses and complex needs with practical and well earned tools to help us hold our hope, and our fear. Cortney is also the host of the Mindset for Medical Moms podcast where she shares so many excellent stories and strategies for parents to make this journey more safe for our mental, physical and emotional health.

You can find Cortney @cortneygiven and her podcast Mindset for Medical Moms everywhere you listen.

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This conversation delves into the emotional and practical challenges faced by two mothers, Jenna and Alex, as they navigate their children's leukemia diagnoses. They share their experiences from the initial diagnosis to the ongoing treatment, highlighting the shock, fear, and isolation that accompany such a journey. The discussion emphasizes the importance of connection and support among parents in similar situations, illustrating how their friendship has provided strength and understanding during one of the most challenging times in their lives.

In this heartfelt conversation, Sam, Alex, and Jenna explore the profound connections formed during the challenging journey of childhood cancer treatment. They discuss the anticipatory fears parents face, the importance of finding community, and the unexpected joys that can arise amidst the pain. The dialogue emphasizes the duality of experience, where sorrow and growth coexist, and highlights the significance of vulnerability in forging deep connections. As they share their stories, they reflect on the lessons learned and the hope that emerges from shared struggles, ultimately reinforcing the message that no one has to navigate this journey alone.

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In this episode, host Sam Taylor and parent Nicole talk about all the unknowns that come up when your child is diagnosed with a rare cancer that doesn’t respond to all the traditional treatments like chemotherapy and radiation. When Nicole’s son Hayden was 12 years old, he had a bad fall while snowboarding and complained of serious pain in his side that brought them to the hospital. After tests and ultrasounds, Nicole was told that Hayden’s fall had ruptured a15 centimetre tumor on his kidney, diagnosing him with a rare type of cancer called Papillary Renal Cell Carcinoma, typically only found in men over the age of 50. Treatment for Hayden’s cancer was surgery to remove the tumor, and 3 month follow up scans to check for recurrence.

Nicole and Sam talk about Hayden’s rare diagnosis, and how difficult it is to resume a “normal” life when the lingering fear of Hayden’s cancer returning is always present. With no other treatments to try to eradicate his cancer, Nicole talks about how she moves forward with so many unknowns. Sam and Nicole also talk about Hayden’s age, and how he is old enough to understand his cancer and have a lot of questions about it, in particular, asking if he is going to die. This conversation is so important for families who also have rare diagnoses, non traditional treatments and families whose kids are old enough to experience all the unknowns alongside their parents.

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