Latest
Supporting Siblings
Related articles:
Care Partners happenings
By Teresa Turner and Alex Thwaites The Junior League of Minneapolis ‘Celebrates Spring’ In 1983, Care Partners was established through the collaborative efforts of… Read More
Care partners happenings
By Alex Thwaites and Teresa Turner Optimist Club International Collaboration In 2001 Optimist Club International created the Childhood Cancer Campaign to meet the needs of… Read More
Care Partners bring smiles to Journey Clinic
In addition to the opening of the new University of Minnesota Amplatz Children’s Hospital, the pediatric specialty clinics moved from the U of M East… Read More
Since 1983, Care Partners has provided non-medical support to pediatric hematology/oncology and blood and marrow transplant patients and their families at the University of Minnesota Amplatz Children’s Hospital. While volunteers have always been the heart of the program, Care Partners also provides funding for a variety of programs and services that support the entire family as they navigate the many ups and downs of treatment.
Recently, Care Partners began funding Sibshops, a workshop program that focuses on the siblings of a child with special health care needs. When a child is diagnosed with cancer or other life-threatening illness, the entire family experiences a great deal of loss, including the siblings, who are uniquely affected by the impacts of the illness. They experience a drastic change in their family life, often accompanied by feelings of confusion, fear, anger, isolation and jealousy. Sibshops combines information and group discussion with fun activities and games to provide an outlet for siblings to express their feelings and to relate with other kids going through a similar situation.
The program is facilitated by Child Family Life Specialists, like Emily Trester, as part of Amplatz’s family-centered care focus. Emily notes that “When children have a sibling with a serious illness, they often feel left out. They may not be able to understand why their ill sibling needs more attention. Sibshops give siblings an opportunity to be the center of attention and to also learn about the hospital environment and common procedures that their siblings endure. Mostly, it allows children a place to have fun! By focusing on the healthy children in the family, we are embracing and supporting the whole family.”
Sibshops are open to siblings, ages 7-11, whose brother or sister is currently in treatment (inpatient or outpatient) or who received care in the past at U of M Amplatz Children’s Hospital. Sessions are scheduled on Saturdays, once per month, following the academic calendar. If you want to learn more or register for an upcoming session, contact the Child Family Life department at 612-273-3124 or .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address).
To learn more about Sibshops, visit http://SiblingSupport.org.
You may also be interested in:
Katie’s Story: Surviving Acute Lymphocytic Leukemia (ALL)
Katie was diagnosed with Acute Lymphocytic Leukemia (ALL) in 1984. She does not remember much about the situation except that her joints hurt, her glands… Read More
