Holistic Care Support: Strength in Togetherness – Part 3
Strength in Togetherness: Why Supporting Parents and Siblings is Part of Holistic Pediatric Cancer Care
When your child is diagnosed with cancer, the impact extends well beyond the hospital room. Parents, siblings, and even extended family members feel the weight of the diagnosis. In the first part of this three-part series, “A Holistic Approach to Pediatric Cancer Care,” we explored what a holistic approach means—caring for the whole child, not just the disease. The second article, “A Holistic Approach to Treating Children with Cancer: Easing Symptoms and Supporting Healing,” highlighted complementary therapies to ease symptoms and improve your child’s quality of life. This final part broadens the perspective to include the entire family. Holistic care involves supporting not only the child but also those who love and care for them every day.
Emotional Impact on Parents and Caregivers
Parents and caregivers often encounter overwhelming emotions, from fear and guilt to exhaustion and helplessness. Managing medical decisions, hospital stays, and daily responsibilities can lead to caregiver burnout. While it’s natural to prioritize your child’s needs, your own well-being is equally important. You must take care of yourself to support your child with cancer.
Reaching out for support isn’t a sign of weakness; it’s essential for your physical and mental well-being. Counseling, support groups, and connecting with other families going through similar experiences provide safe spaces to share your feelings and find answers to your questions.
Supporting Siblings
Siblings face their own challenges when a brother or sister is diagnosed with cancer. They might feel neglected, confused, or even resentful as family attention shifts. At the same time, many siblings carry deep worries about their sibling’s health. Depending on their age, some children may not be able to express or understand their feelings.
Ways to support siblings include:
- Offering honest, age-appropriate communication about what is happening
- Involving them in the care process when appropriate, such as drawing pictures, attending a yoga class with you or their sibling, or attending family meetings.
- Scheduling one-on-one time with them to help them feel seen and valued.
- Connecting them with sibling support programs, camps, or support groups that have peers who understand their experience.
- Maintain their usual routines as much as possible. Try to let them attend school and participate in the extracurricular activities they usually enjoy. Don’t hesitate to ask friends and family for help. Most people are happy to support.
By acknowledging siblings’ feelings, you can reduce feelings of isolation and build resilience.
Family Centered Holistic Care in Hospitals
Hospitals and treatment centers recognize that healing involves the entire family. Many pediatric cancer programs now use a family-centered care model, where parents and siblings are active participants in their child’s care. Support may include:
- Child life specialists who explain treatments in age-appropriate ways
- Social workers who guide families through financial and emotional challenges
- Family counseling sessions that provide tools for coping
- Hospital housing or meal programs that keep families close to their child’s bedside
These services help alleviate the strain of hospital life and support families during an uncertain time.
Community and Practical Support
Families often face practical burdens such as travel, time off work, or increasing expenses. Community organizations can help fill these gaps.
- Transportation support. Organizations like The Sassy Carmen Foundation offer help with transportation costs. They also provide a buddy system to assist with errands, meal prep, or childcare.
- Organizations like Ronald McDonald House Charities provide lodging assistance during your child’s treatment.
- Local nonprofit programs offer meal assistance, grocery gift cards, or household support.
Practical help eases daily stress, allowing you to focus on your child’s care and emotional well-being. It also allows you to be more present with your spouse or other children or to make time for self-care.
Spiritual and Cultural Support
For many families, faith, spirituality, or cultural traditions are essential sources of strength. Whether through prayer, meditation, or cultural practices, these supports offer comfort, purpose, and peace.
Care teams are encouraged to respect and include families’ spiritual and cultural values. Hospitals provide chaplaincy services, meditation areas, and connections with local cultural and faith leaders. These resources help families feel recognized and supported in ways that honor their identity and beliefs.
Caring for the Caregiver
As a parent or caregiver, you often prioritize your child’s needs over your own. Over time, lack of sleep, missed meals, and ongoing stress can harm your physical, mental, and emotional health. Taking care of yourself is not selfish; it is essential so you can be present and available to care for your sick child and other family members. It doesn’t have to be complicated. Small things can make a big difference. Some things that can help include:
- Eating regular, nutritional meals to maintain energy levels.
- Prioritizing rest, even if in short naps or rest breaks.
- Accepting offers of help from friends and family, or community or church groups.
- Using respite care services when available
- Practicing mindfulness, journaling, or light exercise to reduce stress and boost mood
When you take care of yourself, you are better equipped to care for your child with patience, strength, and compassion. It also shows your child the importance of taking café of yourself and asking for help when needed.
Cancer is never just your child’s journey: it is a family journey. A holistic approach recognizes that parents, siblings, and caregivers are all part of the healing process. By supporting families emotionally, practically, spiritually, and socially, care teams and communities help create an environment where children feel loved and secure.
You are not alone. Resources exist, communities are ready to help, and strength is found in togetherness. With whole-family support, you and your child can face cancer with resilience and hope.
References
How to Cope if Your Child Has Cancer. (2022). Cancer.org. https://www.cancer.org/cancer/childhood-cancer/for-parents.html
Our Programs – The Sassy Carmen Foundation. (2024, June 6). The Sassy Carmen Foundation. https://www.sassycarmen.org/our-programs/
Ronald McDonald House. (n.d.). Ronald McDonald House | RMHC. Rmhc.org. https://rmhc.org/our-core-programs/ronald-mcdonald-house-programs
Support for Families: Childhood Cancer. (2023, September 6). Cancer.gov. https://www.cancer.gov/about-cancer/coping/caregiver-support/parents#coping-as-parents-a
Support for Teens When a Family Member Has Cancer – National Cancer Institute. (2014, December 2). Www.cancer.gov. https://www.cancer.gov/about-cancer/coping/caregiver-support/teens
Supporting Siblings of Children with Cancer. (2019). Cancer.org. https://www.cancer.org/cancer/childhood-cancer/helping-siblings.html
