Wednesday, 21 July 2021 | 12:00 - 13:00 ( UTC+8 | SGT )
Synopsis
To be told your child has cancer and watching him/her getting pricked and poked is gut-wrenching and devastating. Do you get emotional and cry at night? Were you on the internet and reading articles on everything relating to childhood cancer and loose sleep after? Sometimes when you see other healthy-looking children, do you feel sad and ask “Why my child?”. Do you get paranoid over the slightest of things related to your child then quickly call the ward to consult? Have you lost your patience with your child after almost 30 minutes of coaxing him to take the medication? Rebecca felt all of the above. Her role as a full-time caregiver to a critically sick child, to protect, to be familiar with the medical procedures, and to stay strong and positive amidst all this was not easy.
Every diagnosis and journey may be different, but through this series of Real-Life Caregiver Stories - The Journey, we hope Rebecca’s sharing of her family's journey, her personal tips on self-care and ways to support a child with cancer will not only be useful, but also inspire fellow caregivers and families who are navigating their own childhood cancer journey.
Medical professionals in Singapore may be eligible for CNE credits for attending this webinar.
WATCH IT AGAIN!
SPEAKER
Rebecca Sit
Mother of an Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia survivor
Over the course of the last three years, Rebecca made the decision to put her career pursuits on hold to become a full-time caregiver to her son, Damien, who was diagnosed with Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia at just 23 months old in June 2018. When Damien finished six months of intensive chemotherapy, he attended Arc Children’s Centre, a day care centre for children with cancer. It was during this time that Rebecca started getting involved in projects to support and create awareness for childhood cancer. She currently helps with creating social media content for Arc Children’s Centre and volunteers in CCF’s Caregiver Support Program. Last year, Rebecca and her husband successfully organised a small fundraiser “A Christmas to Remember” to decorate the KKH Oncology Ward for Christmas. She has also shared her family’s childhood cancer journey in local media interviews, podcasts and webinars. Damien entered remission in August 2020. He is doing well and recently started mainstream preschool.
CHAIR:
Laura Mei Lian Tan
Senior Nursing Lecturer, Global Outreach Program (Asia Pacific Region)
Paediatric Oncology, Department of Paediatrics
VIVA-University Children's Cancer Centre, National University Hospital
Ms. Laura Tan works at the VIVA-University Children’s Cancer at the National University Hospital as the Global Outreach Senior Nursing Lecturer where she focuses on expanding Nursing training to nurses in the Asia Pacific Region. Helping the nurses in the region to achieve their vision of how Paediatric Oncology Nursing can help transform the lives of children diagnosed with childhood cancer.
She also works with St. Jude’s Children & Research Hospital, The Kandang Kerbau Women’s and Children Hospital and VIVA to establish the St Jude VIVA Asia Pacific Nursing Institute, focusing on planning and training regional nurses to enhance and provide quality nursing care for all diagnosed with childhood cancers. She supports and guide regional nurses in providing Patient & Family Education to ensure a continuity of care whilst patients are nursed by care-giver at home.
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