An Update On Lainie's Angels in 2013
Posted on Jun 25, 2013
Hello again! With July just around the corner, we can officially say Summer 2013 has begun! In the past six months, Lainie's Angels has been busy forging new relationships, setting new goals and visiting new locations. Let's get down to the good stuff.
Where We've Been
Last month, The Association of Pediatric Oncology Social Workers (APOSW) gathered in Minneapolis for their annual conference, and I was there as an exhibitor, participating in the seminars and sharing our mission with social workers from all over the country. We were well received and I learned much from our social worker colleagues about what they need to help parents, and how Lainie’s Angels can facilitate their work.
Three weeks later, I was in Chicago, attending a conference of the Association of Pediatric Hematology/Oncology Nurses (APHON), as they participated in an End-of-Life Nursing Education Consortium. Lainie’s Angels was a principal sponsor of this conference with three other national organizations.
So, why social workers and nurses? Simple. These two groups represent the front-line care givers when it comes to pediatric cancer and blood disorders, and Lainie’s Angels is working with them to create an on-line service for peer support. We want these professionals to know they have a place to send their parents for advice and comfort, through the shared experience of living with childhood cancer.
Where We're Going
Next month, we're going to be reconnecting with an old, influential ally - bereaved parents. Many bereaved parents are looking for a way to give back, in memory of their lost child and for their own therapeutic well-being. I will be in Boston from July 5th to the 7th, attending the Compassionate Friends convention.
Compassionate Friends is probably the largest organization in the country that focuses on helping bereaved family members, and I’m looking forward to participating as a bereaved father, hearing other people’s stories, and hopefully, recruiting parents to help us with our mission.
Enjoy your summer, but please remember…
Cancer never takes a holiday! As we embark on our summer vacations, with family and friends, I am ever-mindful of the families who will spend their summer in hospitals, caring for their sick children, who unfortunately, will not be able to celebrate summer as those of us blessed with good health do. They need your support and prayers, so please, join us in our mission as we work to bring them back to good health and a normal life. Join us on Facebook and Twitter, sign up for our newsletter, and give generously!
With love,
Stathi