Child & Family Support

We offer a knowledgeable personal guide helping you and your family navigate the cancer treatment process, connecting you to support and services.

• Become a Why Me Family - If you have a child with cancer and live in the Central New England Area, or if you have a child living in the United States requiring medical help for cancer at a New England hospital, we can help. Contact Danielle Perron  to become a Why Me Family at dperron@whyme.org or call (508) 757-7734.

• Support and Bereavement Groups:
  

1. Parents to Parents - A monthly support group for families in active treatment.  Parents support each other by sharing their experiences.  The group is facilitated by Danielle Perron, Director of Family Services, and Fran Prunier, a devoted UMASS Memorial Hospital social worker. Any family with a child in active treatment is welcome, regardless of the treating institution. Dinner is provided at 6pm, Group Meeting from 7-8pm. Email Danielle to RSVP for this group.
2. Circle of Healing Bereavement Group - A monthly support group for any parents or extended family member grieving the loss of a child due to cancer, regardless of the treating institution.  The families that attend are at various stages in their bereavement journey and support each other by listening and sharing.  Several attendees are many years along in their walk and offer a helpful perspective on a variety of topics including anniversaries, birthdays, the holidays, personal belongings, issues with family and friends and the ways their bereavement unfolded over time.  This group is facilitated by Mark Wyco, a Why Me dad and Worcester firefighter, who lost his daughter to a brain tumor, and David Hagan, a Why Me dad and House Manager at Sherry's House who lost his son to leukemia.  Additionally, we host a bereavement weekend at Paul Newman's Hole in the Wall Gang Camp in Ashford, CT every February.  Attendees enjoy a relaxing rural setting, conversation by the fireplace, crafts, games and the freedom to explore their own healing over the weekend.  You're not alone, please reach out.  Dinner is provided at 6pm, Group Meeting from 7-8:30pm.
3. Mixture of Memories - A monthly support group for sibling bereavement support.  This group is offered at the same time as the Circle of Healing meeting.

• Family Fun Events: Keeping Families Connected - Family Fun Events like Family Dinners and cookouts give families the opportunity to meet other parents and children in a simlar situation but in a light-hearted setting removed from the stress of the hospital.  The bonds of friendship forged through shared common experience are sustaining and enduring.  At Why Me, we try to create opportunities for families to develop their support relationships at a time that can feel very isolating.  In addition, we offer a summer day camp program.  Campers enjoy arts & crafts, games, and a variety of special weekely activities like a small animal petting zoo, carnival week, and nature week.  Chidren have great summer fun ejoying the activity center and gardens while parents enjoy a respite from care, secure in the knowledge that their children are safe and happy.
• Parents Essentials Kit - Phone cards, gas cards, toiletries, journal books, quilt, teddy bear, crossword puzzles, snacks, etc.
• Emotional Support - Bring a smile to a child's face. Cuddly Teddy Bears, Puppet Play, Clown Visits, Celebrations: treatment milestones, birthdays, special occasions, Music, movies, books, toys, games & video games, Treasure Chest in-hospital, Picnics and entertainment outings.
• Hospital & Clinic Visits - Attends clinic and supports you through the treatment process. Social and Support visits in clinic and hospital, bringing coffee, donuts and activities for the kids.
• Family Retreat Getaways - Helping families heal, together, at a difficult time. Hole in the Wall Gang Camp, Sutton Falls Campground.
• Financial Assistance - Limited funding, determined on a family by family basis, to assist with medicine, pain management, wigs, nutritional supplements, clothing, food, and emergency needs.
• Why Me Family Fund (at UMass Medical Center) - Emergency funds for food, transportation, and in-hospital needs.