When a child falls ill, sibling(s) too may manifest a myriad of emotional and behavioural responses to the advent of the illness. As the focus is largely directed towards the sick child, sibling(s) often feel lonely and neglected by their family.
On the other hand, when an adult is diagnosed with cancer, the entire family, particularly the children, are impacted. Leveraging on CCF’s experience and expertise in providing psychosocial care for children, we support these children through home-based psycho-education, counselling and therapeutic play.
Very Important Brothers and Sisters (VIBS) Programme
The VIBS programme aims to support, honour and empower siblings so that they may face the future with resilience in the aftermath of their brother’s/ sister’s cancer diagnosis. The VIBS programme include:
SibsConnect
SibsConnect aims to rebuild and deepen the bond between patients and their siblings, which are often strained by the impacts of cancer. The event provides opportunities for them to play and overcome challenges together as a sibling unit.
Siblings’ Day
Siblings’ Day is a special day dedicated to the siblings to commemorate their strengths and resilience in coping with the challenges resulted from their brother’s or sister’s cancer. Siblings’ Day also aims to provide opportunities to build relationships and strengthen support within the sibling community.
Hospital Tour
Hospital Tour aims to empower siblings with the knowledge to cope with childhood cancer in the family. Siblings are invited to go on a guided hospital tour to better understand the treatments associated with cancer.
VIBS Got Mail
VIBS Got Mail letter boxes are installed outside KKH’s Family Resource Centre and NUH’s Inpatient Playroom for both patients and parents to drop their handwritten letters to the siblings.
Children Impacted by Cancer (CIC)
When a caregiver is diagnosed with cancer, children may often be the forgotten voice in the family. They are likely to experience a disruption in their routines and difficult feelings arising from separation anxiety, fear of losing their caregivers, depression and poor family cohesion. Leveraging on CCF’s experience and expertise in providing psychosocial care for children, we support these children through home-based psycho-education, counselling and therapeutic play.
Bereaved Family Retreat is meant for bereaved children and their caregivers. It draws parents out of their busy routines to spend uninterrupted quality time with their children. Over the two days and one night of glamping, six parent-child duos experienced new ways of expressing their love to one another through interactive games. The parents also shared among themselves, their experience of losing their loved ones and their struggle with single-parenting.
Project Wish provides children impacted by cancer with an opportunity to fulfil a wish related to their ill caregiver and build a meaningful experience with their family.
