Childhood cancer is a rare but devastating diagnosis for families. Children may be hospitalized within hours, and parents may have an overload of information and options to consider before there is time to bring in any support or help for the family or child.

Life changes dramatically when the hospital becomes home. One mother told me that she was so grateful for the doctors, clinic, treatments and long term survival rates at first, she felt she could do anything asked of her.

She thought she could sit by her daughter's bedside watching her breathe as she slept and find the energy she needed from thankfulness. But as the days and then weeks wore on, she could become so physically and emotionally exhausted that she had to rely on any help and support that family, friends and her new community offered.

Two years ago, a dear friend wrote to me asking how to build a circle of friends around the family of a little boy newly diagnosed with cancer. By the time I finished a web search and contacting families to ask what was most helpful when their children were in treatment, my friend already had a list of loved ones and neighbors who stepped in to form a support network for that child and his family.

What I found most touching was how each person respected the privacy and special needs of the little boy and his family. The help and visits were scheduled so that the family would not be overwhelmed, and each person in the family was remembered in the main plan. I loved that they scheduled in 'ordinary time as a family' in that plan.

It was a comfort to me to be included in the email updates that my friend sent so that we could all share our concerns and celebration without intruding. Some families create web pages to keep their support circle informed. I wish every family found all the help and support that is needed during the months after diagnosis, during treatment, and throughout recovery.

Even with all the support we can give, children with cancer and their families face many challenges, great and small, over a long period of time. There are no quick and easy treatments, and a dozen unexpected complications can spring up when they are least expected. Sometimes the most we can do is to stand by, pray and hope, and be ready when we are needed.

There are some fine organizations that provide information, resources and support for families and friends who need to learn about childhood cancer and treatment. The leading pediatric cancer care centers are aware of the most up to date and effective treatments available, avoiding unhelpful navigation through a maze of outdated or unreliable internet sites.

Browse at your local bookstore, public library, or online retailer for books about childhood cancer, and stories about children with cancer and their families, like Butterfly Kisses and Wishes on Wings: When someone you love has cancer...a hopeful, helpful book for kids, Chemo Girl: Saving the World One Treatment at a Time, or Cathy's Hats.

5 Things Not to Say to the Parent of a Child with Cancer
https://getwhatyouget.blogspot.com/2013/09/5-things-not-to-say-to-parent-of-child.html

ACS - Find a Pediatric Cancer Center
https://www.cancer.org

Types of Childhood Cancer
https://www.curesearch.org/aboutcc/types.aspx

Just Heard the News and Help During Treatment
https://www.curesearch.org/parentsfamilies

ACS - Helping Children Deal with a Cancer Diagnosis in the Family
https://www.cancer.org

When a Child has Cancer
https://www.cancercare.org/Children/Childrenmain.cfm

Books About Cancer for Kids
https://www.notimeforflashcards.com/2014/08/books-cancer-kids.html

Parents of Children with Cancer Online Support Groups
https://www.cancercare.org/Counseling/CounselingList.cfm?c=373

Thirty percent cuts to children’s cancer research? Unacceptable
https://thehill.com/blogs/congress-blog/healthcare/210091-thirty-percent-cuts-to-childrens-cancer-research-unacceptable

Back to School Program Helps Kids with Cancer
https://www.newswise.com/articles/back-to-school-program-helps-kids-with-cancer

Pediatric Support services
https://www.dana-farber.org/pat/support/pediatric/default.html

Back to School Program
https://www.dana-farber.org/pat/support/back-to-school/default.html

Family Connections
A resource for parents with cancer and their families
https://www.dana-farber.org/pat/support/familyconnections/default.html

ACS - Financial and Insurance Issues When Your Child Has Cancer
https://www.cancer.org

Free Or Low-Cost Family Housing at Cancer Centers
https://www.cancer.org

Financial Assistance, Childrens Web Sites
https://nationalchildrenscancersociety.com/faq/index.html

Cáncer en la familia: los niños frente al diagnóstico
https://www.cancer.org/docroot/ESP/content/ESP_2_1x_Cncer_en_la_familia_los_nios_frente_al_diagnstico.asp

Spanish Language Resources and Information
https://www.cancercare.org/EnEspanol/EnEspanolmain.cfm

Family Village Information on Childhood Cancer
https://www.familyvillage.wisc.edu/lib_canc.htm

LiveStrong.org

CNN - Symptoms of Leukemia
https://www.cnn.com/HEALTH/library/DS/00351.html

Symptoms and Treatment - Leukemia
https://cancer.about.com/od/leukemia/Leukemia.htm

Leukemia in Down's Syndrome
https://www.riverbendds.org/rajantie.html

Down's Syndrome and Leukaemia
https://www.riverbendds.org/lrf.html

Down Syndrome Mutation Helps Leukemia Survival
https://www.webmd.com/parenting/news/20050201/down-syndrome-mutation-helps-leukemia-survival

Read about The Valerie Fund Children's Centers for Cancer and Blood Disorders, where 5,000 children and their families are treated and supported each year in eight New Jersey cities, at the website:
https://www.thevaleriefund.org/our_programs.asp

Advocating for Children in Hospitals
https://www.bellaonline.com/articles/art66329.asp

Melissa Riggio Made a Difference
https://www.bellaonline.com/articles/art56423.asp

Pain Management for Children
https://www.bellaonline.com/articles/art51895.asp

Pain Relief for Childhood Blood Draws, Injections or IV Lines
https://www.bellaonline.com/articles/art51944.asp

Soothing Children's Fears
https://www.bellaonline.com/articles/art35602.asp

Sun Blocking Clothing, and Rit Sunblock Laundry Rinse

Asking More from Medical Professionals
https://www.bellaonline.com/articles/art39121.asp