Summary: Trauma, cancer and grief combine into a powerful cocktail of shock, fear and uncertainty. Even for adults dealing with these intense emotions can be challenging. For children, however, the challenge happens at an age too early for them to have developed coping skills and executive thought processes to help ameliorate the blow. Discovering a parent, teacher or friend has been diagnosed with cancer rocks a child's world and introduces him to concepts of mortality, sickness and the potential for loss. At the same time, this is a teachable moment with the opportunity to shape a child's response to disturbing news and how he learns to process information. On today's episode of Changing Direction I chatted with two experts in the field of cancer and helping children heal. Joining me on the show were Maryann Makekau, founder of BecauseHopeMatters, and Jeanine Patten-Coble, founder of Little Pink Houses of Hope. Together we tackled the issues of trauma, cancer and grief, plus helping children heal. We discussed: the connection between trauma and grief how trauma and grief affect children suggestions for helping kids manage grief Makekau and Patten-Coble's terrific initiative for helping children heal From diagnosis through treatment cancer can be traumatic for patients, caregivers, family and friends. Especially for children navigating the fears related to the illness of someone they care about can be extremely grief, fear and pain-inducing. Maryann and Jeanine have ideas to make things easier for adults and children alike. Take a listen.... Maryann Makekau is an author, speaker, and radio co-host with over twenty-five years of mental health expertise. She is also a veteran, spouse of retired military member, and mother of two grown children. She founded Hope Matters to make a difference in hurting lives worldwide – while magnifying hope through her Little Pink Books and Little Patriot Books. Contact Maryann through her website, BecauseHopeMatters.com. Jeanine Patten-Coble was a high school history teacher and professional educational trainer for 15 years before being diagnosed with breast cancer in 2009. Her own battle with breast cancer inspired the creation of Little Pink Houses of Hope. Her work, providing breast cancer patients and their families with a week long vacation away form doctor appointments and treatments, has made an amazing impact across the United States. Jeanine was recently honored by SELF magazine as the 2014 Women Doing Good award winner and by Former President George HW Bush as a Point of Light Award Winner. Her joy comes in knowing the way in which the national non- profit serves women in 48 states and Canada. She is inspired by all of the wonderful people that she has met through her service and is thankful that God showed up in her life in such a big and powerful way to put her on this mission. Jeanine has a Bachelor’s degree from Saint Louis University, a Master’s degree from NC A&T University and a degree in Non-Profit Management from Duke University. Jeanine is thrilled to have a wonderful husband, Terry and son, Jake who carried her through her own cancer journey with their strength, support and love. She currently lives in Burlington, North Carolina. Website: wwww.littlepink.org email: jeanine@littlepink.org
