Families First Program Helps Children Cope with Parent’s Cancer Diagnosis
Finding out a parent has cancer can be overwhelming for children. According to Kesem, a partner of Moffitt Cancer Center, 5 million children in the United States have a parent with cancer.
Joel Santos, pictured with two of his three children, joined Families First during the pandemic when his cancer returned.
Moffitt created the Families First Program to provide resources for parents and their children to help them adjust to the changes that come with a cancer diagnosis. The program provides a monthly parenting support group for patients. Backpacks are also available for each child with resources inside including books, a therapeutic tool and other educational materials.
“Knowing about a parent’s cancer diagnosis early can help children with their anxiety,” said Katrina Miller, an outpatient hematology social worker and volunteer for Families First. “If children are not told the truth, it can be very easy for them to create their own narratives.”
Joel Santos Gonzalez was diagnosed with Hodgkin lymphoma in 2017. The teacher and father of three joined the program during the pandemic.
“That was the first time I had relapsed, and it was a much different landscape compared to the first time I was diagnosed,” Santos Gonzalez said. “It’s always a very vulnerable group, and we can talk about anything.”
Catherine and Kyle Wood used the tools Families First offers to learn to discuss Kyle's cancer with their two daughters.
Catherine Wood also joined Families First with her husband and two daughters during the pandemic. Her husband was diagnosed with anaplastic astrocytoma, a rare and complex brain tumor, in 2019.
“This year and last year my daughter started to see that her dad is different than the other dads,” Wood said. “It’s nice for us to meet other couples and parents to be able to see how they navigate things. It’s OK if your family doesn’t look like everybody else’s because you will find your way through it all.”
The program offers two in-person events each year. The latest was held on Dec. 14. Attendees took Christmas photos and participated in holiday-themed games for the whole family. The next event will take place in 2025.
