Every THON™ donation impacts the life of a child in many ways. These donations help children and families who are impacted by childhood cancer navigate through every challenge, big and small. In our latest addition to our Where Does Your Donation Go series, we are highlighting Family Support and the many ways these donations help families through their cancer journey.
Bethany Aney is a Child Life Specialist at Penn State Health Golisano Children’s Hospital and sees firsthandthe countless ways donations can provide support for Four Diamonds families. As a Child Life Specialist, Bethany ensures children are given ways to cope through their diagnosis through many different forms. Education, preparation, and play are some of the ways Bethany and other specialists in the hospital help build trust with children, but it doesn’t stop there.
“We know what affects the patient affects the whole family,” said Bethany.
Child Life Specialists help assess the needs of the parents and siblings of the child going through treatment.Whether that be through different activities to connect their emotions or to offer spaces where patients and family members can vocalize their feelings, support is at the heart of it all.
“We want for them to be seen… we want to be a part of helping the whole family through the journey,” said Bethany.
In a cancer journey, family support offers a powerhouse of care. Consistency is key: having these specialists at the hospital show up, be a familiar face, and recall details the family expresses throughout visits can help bring a sense of comfort in very difficult times. Getting to know siblings, learning about their interests, and involving them in different facets of their brother or sister’s visit is incredibly valuable.
“It can just really help to boost family understanding, sibling understanding, and makes them feel important and included,” said Bethany.
It is so important that services like Bethany’s are available to families at no cost, and THON donations helpcontinue this support. The education, preparation, and tools that Child Life Specialists provide to patients, siblings, and families go beyond the hospital. Learning different coping skills, educating the patient and other family members, and developing ways to navigate through new routines are just some of the ways in which a THON donation can help the life of a Four Diamonds family.
“Going through a cancer diagnosis and treatment has a lot of different ups and downs and overwhelming moments,” said Bethany. “We get to really step in and care for them, and celebrate with them, and grieve alongside them,” said Bethany.
Bethany extends her thanks to the THON community for their hard work and determination, day in and day out. She sees patients and families daily, and because of the hard work and fundraising of all those in the THON community, progress is being made.
“Your hard work is allowing for people to be here on the ground doing the daily work, and that is crucial and really important… It’s those steady changes and progress and growth and feeling that’s happening because of everything you guys do,” said Bethany.
Every dollar raised is more than a donation. It is a reminder that no child or family is ever alone on their journey with cancer. Because of your donation and THON’s continuous support, these services are available to families at no cost, and both children and their loved ones receive the care and compassion they deserve.
THON™ is able to donate 96 cents of every dollar raised to Four Diamonds at Penn State Health Golisano Children’s Hospital because of supporters like you. Your generosity creates moments of joy for Four Diamonds children and families and empowers our volunteers through year-round events, fundraisers and THON Weekend.
