FOR BREAKING NEWS VISIT WWW.QNS.COM MARСH 5, 2020 • HEALTH • THE QUEENS COURIER 45
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Siblings: Helping them cope with childhood cancer
When a child is diagnosed with cancer,
the entire family is aff ected by the experience,
especially the child’s siblings. Young
children experience their brother or sister’s
cancer while they are still learning
to make sense of the world. Oft en this
leaves them feeling scared, angry, anxious
or sad.
According to Meredith Barnhart,
a licensed clinical social worker at Th e
Leukemia & Lymphoma Society (LLS), a
global leader in the fi ght against cancer,
“Childhood cancer has a direct impact on
siblings and it’s inevitable that a cancer
diagnosis will drastically change a family’s
routine. Siblings need extra support when
adjusting to their new normal.”
Shameeza Singh, of New York City,
knows all too well the impact childhood
cancer has on siblings. In June 2016, her
oldest son, King, was diagnosed with
high-risk acute lymphoblastic leukemia
at 2 years old. He underwent nearly four
years of intense daily treatment, which
she describes as “extremely debilitating.”
As a result of his treatment, King, now 6,
developed life-altering side eff ects including
brain swelling and neuropathy and his
family has been aff ected in many ways.
King’s siblings, Mesiah and Faith, have
experienced the impact of cancer fi rsthand
from a very young age. At the time
of his diagnosis, Mesiah was only 1 year
old; the family welcomed his sister Faith
two years into his treatment. Because of
King’s cancer, the Singh family has had to
make many adjustments to accommodate
his health. “King’s immune system is compromised
so formal school settings and
daycare were never an option for any of
my children,” says Singh. “Th ey’re homeschooled
together, so running to emergency
hospital visits is something they experience
together.”
In October 2019, King completed chemotherapy,
but continues to battle the
chronic side eff ects of his treatment.
Mesiah and Faith still attend regular doctor
appointments with him and although
there’s still a long road ahead, the Singh
family lives in faith that King’s cancer
won’t return.
“King is a hero to all of us and I’m so
amazed by how much he continues to
inspire his brother and sister,” says Singh.
“It’s also heartwarming to see my children
support their big brother the best way
they know how. We appreciate all the little
things and cherish our family moments
together.”
Barnhart leads LLS’s Information
Resource Center, a team of social workers,
nurses and health educators who provide
blood cancer patients and caregivers
with free personalized information and
support tailored to their specifi c diagnosis
and needs. Here’s some ways Barnhart
says parents can help their children cope
with a sibling’s cancer:
• Create an open and honest dialogue.
Children are very savvy and will come
to their own conclusions if they think
they’re not being told the truth about
their sibling’s diagnosis and treatment. If
possible, introduce siblings to the treatment
team to help them develop a better
understanding of what their brother
or sister is going through.
• Arrange for alone time. While this
might be diffi cult to do in the midst of
dealing with cancer, it’s very important
for parents to set aside time for a cancer
patient’s siblings. Even if it’s just a
short amount of time, it’s something
that well siblings can count on and look
forward to.
• Encourage him/her to be helpful. When
possible, involve siblings in the treatment
and arrange for them to visit the
hospital or clinic. Th ey can feel helpful
just by spending time with their brother
or sister.
• Identify a safe person for children to talk
to. Th e parents of a child with cancer are
consumed with emotion and lots of time
is likely spent with doctors and at treatment.
Hospital and school social workers
and psychologists may be able to
provide information about support programs
for siblings of children with cancer.
Parents should ask the school for a
hall pass so that the children are able to
leave class to talk to that person when
needed.
• Provide consistent, fair discipline to all
children. Even though it may be more
diffi cult than ever, it’s critical that parents
try and be as consistent as possible,
even when it comes to discipline.
Singh says these strategies have helped
her family navigate the complicated and
unpredictable childhood cancer journey.
She is grateful for the support she received
from LLS throughout King’s road to survivorship
and hopes more organizations
will off er much needed resources and
support for siblings dealing with childhood
cancer.
LLS recently launched The LLS
Children’s Initiative, a $100 million comprehensive
attack on children’s cancer
from every angle, from new research
investment to advance novel therapies
and bolster clinical trials, to enhanced
services and support for children and
their families, to renewed policy eff orts.
“Our family and LLS share a common
goal - to end cancer,” says Singh.
Today, King, an aspiring model, has
become an asset to his community in
many ways and the entire Singh family
spends much of their time advocating for
patients and families in similar situations
and spreading awareness about childhood
cancer.
— Courtesy of BPT
/WWW.QNS.COM
