TheGingerbreadMan
When children face cancer, Senior Child Life Specialist
Liow Hwee Hsiang knows that their biggest form of emotional
support will come from their loved ones.
Hence, her counselling sessions focus on the strength and
resilience of the child and family.
“We talk about concrete ways the family can support the child
and one another. Having a network of support helps to reduce
the sense of isolation in their experience,” she said.
Hwee Hsiang also helps patients and families understand the
illness, treatments, lifestyle changes and physical changes that
will takeplaceduring thecancer journey.Sometimes, thismeans
findingways to explain difficult scenarios to children.
She recalled an eight-year-old with bone cancer who needed
tohave his legamputated.
“I made a gingerbread man out of play dough and pointed to
where the cancer was. Then I asked him what we could do
to stop the cancer from spreading to other parts of the body.
The boy drew a line across the limb of the gingerbread
man with his finger and said to cut it off. And I responded
that the doctor also said it was the best way to help,” said
HweeHsiang.
Anoutpouringof emotions followed, with theboy cryingand
shouting “no” over the prospect of losing his limb. Hwee
Hsiang gave him the time and space togrieve.
When the child was more composed, she answered his
questions as compassionately and honestly as she could.
He wanted to know what would happen to the amputated
leg and asked questions such as – “What would life be like
for a personwithphysical disability?”
He was one of the many children Hwee Hsiang has
journeyedwith throughout her 17yearswithCCF - listening,
understandingand validating their concerns and fears.
She said: “Seeing patients and their loved ones overcome
their strugglesasa family isoneof themost rewardingparts
of my job.”
"Seeing patients and their loved
ones overcome their struggles
as a family is one of the most
rewarding parts of my job."
3
