VIBSGot Mail!
Since 2015, CCF Very Important Brothers and
Sisters (VIBS) Programme – “VIBS Got Mail” has
been collecting and delivering letters sealed with
love from the hospital to the siblings at home. This
programme helps to facilitatesiblings’ andparent-child
communication by providing the letter writingmaterials
andmailing service for the inpatients and their parents
to write letters to the siblings who are at home, during
the patients’ prolonged hospitalization. This is also to
promotemorepositiveadjustment to the impactsof the
illness and for siblings to learn that even though their
parentsare spendingmore timewith thepatientsat the
hospital, they are still being loved and cared for.
Once a month, “VIBS Got Mail” is promoted within
the paediatric oncology wards at KKH and NUH,
where writing materials are provided by our friendly
staff. Alternatively, parents and patients may grab a
postcardandother writingmaterials at our CCFFamily
Resource Centre and drop the mail in the “VIBS Got
Mail” mailbox.
Since its introduction, “VIBS Got Mail” has sent 120
letters to 109 siblings and received positive feedback
from both parents and patients.
Feedback from parents said that the programme has
helped the the patients to stay close to their siblings,
andmade the siblings feel cared for and loved. Parents
and patients expressed great joy in sending letters for
they reckon that it will be a pleasant surprise for the
siblings back home and a different way of showing
love. In fact theyfind itmeaningful towrite letters in this
technological ageandoften receivedpositive feedback
from siblings who were happy and thrilled to receive
the letters.
“Gotta Catch ‘Em All!” was the theme for this year’s
Sibling’s Day on 19 November 2016 at Bishan Park. A
total of 19 siblings came together to be the very best in an
AmazingRace.
CCFVery ImportantBrothersandSisters(VIBS)programme
dedicates this special day to the siblings to commemorate
their strengths in coping with the challenges resulting
from their brother’s or sister’s cancer. It also aims to build
relationships and support within the sibling community.
Based on Pokémon Go, the day started with a round of
ice-breaker where the siblings had to find their teams
according to the given Pokémon label. In teams, they had
to work together to create their own team name, attack
cheer, and competewith the other teams in a ‘Gym battle’!
It was a great time of bonding and friendly competition.
With their spirits pumped up, the siblings embarked on the
AmazingRace!
At the Bishan Park Pond Gardens, the siblings had to
complete five games but firstly they had to find the game
stations, where our chirpy station masters were waiting
for them. At each station, the siblings were presented
with experiential games and challenges where they would
discover one strength of theirs. It was a thrilling and fun
adventure as the siblings braved the climb up the rope
and rock structures, participated in reverse relay and
blindfolded games, fed one another snacks, and of course,
they dashed with guts to finish the race! Independence,
Patience, Understanding, Caring and Flexibility were the
mystery strengths they had to discover before they could
finish the race.
Withagreat senseof unityand synergy forged, the siblings
returned to theCCFCommunityOffice for a timeof sharing,
where they affirmedoneanother of the strengths they each
had and that they were not alone in their journey. The day
ended on a high note, withmany prizes and awards for the
siblingswho best demonstrated eachmystery strength.
Siblings’Day 2016 –
GottaCatch ‘EmAll!
“Patient is so happy to send
letter to their siblings.”
“Through sending letters, patient and
parents can express their feelings
when they have no chance to talk to
their familymembers.”
“My children enjoy
reading the letters
and are happy to
receive it.”
“Best way to say:
I love you”
“In this technologyworld,
it’smeaningful towrite letters.”
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