Being a parent is already an incredibly demanding role, and when your child has cancer, your world can become an unimaginable tidal wave.  While your child’s well-being is unquestionably your highest priority, it’s just as important to take care of yourself. Granted, self-care when your child has cancer isn’t easy when all your energy and attention is focused on your child. But it’s an absolute necessity.  It’s important because in order to offer your child the best possible care, you need to be healthy and well yourself, both physically and emotionally.

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When a child is diagnosed with cancer, their world can quickly become confined to hospital rooms and treatment centers. During this challenging time, it’s important to create a healing environment that promotes their well-being and supports their emotional and physical recovery. As a matter of fact, one great way to achieve this is by bringing nature inside!  Here are some ideas on how families can incorporate nature into their child’s surroundings.  This can help lift their spirits, reduce stress, and even enhance their healing process.

Pediatric cancer is a tough battle that takes a toll on children’s physical and emotional health. And it’s not just about the treatments or side effects. Stress becomes a constant companion for both the children and their families. Therefore, it’s important to look at stress in pediatric cancer and explore ways to provide emotional support during this challenging journey.

No one wants to rush to the emergency room, especially with a sick child. But when your gut is telling you it’s serious, there’s no time to waste. Decisions like this often need to be made quickly during great moments of anxiety and uncertainty. And the last thing on anyone’s mind is to pack a “Go Bag” for the Emergency Room. This is not the time to be thinking about toothbrushes or phone chargers as everyone scrambles to help with what’s most important at the time.

As a parent or caregiver, there’s nothing more gut wrenching than watching your child struggle with a cancer diagnosis. And of course, you want to do everything you can to help them. Thankfully, in addition to medical care, there are many valuable tools parents can use to help their children cope with cancer. And among them is a self-care plan.

Creating a plan with self-care strategies is a good way to help children feel emotionally and physically stronger. These strategies are particularly helpful for children when they are dealing with challenging situations like medical procedures or difficult treatments.  A self-care plan empowers them to continue to be resilient and better able to handle future stressors. In fact, even practicing small self-care acts like deep breathing exercises can promote body and mind wellness and decrease stress.