COVID CANCER STRESS It is a parent’s worst nightmare to hear the words “your child has cancer”. Sadly, this was reality for hundreds of Victorian families over the last 12 months. As if this isn’t enough to contend with, these families were faced with increased stress during the COVID-19 pandemic. A recent survey, conducted by Koala Kids Foundation, suggests that COVID increased the stress of as many as two thirds of parents and 45 per cent of children during treatment and a huge COVID challenge for these families was maintaining a strong family environment. These stresses included fear of contracting the virus, limits on hospital visitors and isolation from a ‘cancer normal’ social life. Rachel Manypeney’s daughter Ella was diagnosed with B Cell Acute Lymphoblastic Leukeamia in June last year. “I think of Ella as being a COVID cancer kid. The doctors would tell us her medication would likely give her a fever and this would result in a COVID test.” They lost count with the number of tests Ella had over a few months. “Unfortunately, as treatment went on, Ella became more anxious about every procedure to the point that I would have to hold her down for the COVID tests. I think the tests also made other simple procedures worse. Ella now needs to use laughing gas for procedures she was able to cope with in the first few months. It’s heartbreaking to watch from the sidelines”. The pandemic at its height changed care routines, with many families attending hospital less frequently and 11 per cent not attending in-
hospital care at all. Hospitals were also reported as feeling purely clinical with less fun and distractions. This is in fact an existing challenge for families, whose children are undergoing cancer treatment, but has been significantly exacerbated by the impacts of the pandemic and the strict protocols of infection control. Koala Kids’ purpose is to bring happy moments to children and young people during cancer treatment, their families and their healthcare team. During the pandemic Koala Kids focused on in-home delivery due to the suspension of in-hospital activities such as school holiday programs and fun-themed events. Family meal boxes, hand sanitiser and masks, themed craft activities and customised toy and activity packs were most useful while interactive Zoom sessions and activity packs for Mother’s and Father’s Day, AFL finals and Halloween were the most fun. This type of in-home support is an important part of their child’s cancer treatment and parents agree the support is beneficial and fun for the whole family. Let’s hope these types of in-home services can continue after the pandemic. Koala Kids is a volunteer driven organisation that provides small things that make a difference to the lives of children and young people (from birth to 25 years) undergoing cancer treatment and their families and staff who care for them in hospital. Koala Kids has developed a range of activities and provides therapeutic and other resources for children and young people undergoing treatment in hospital and in their homes. For more information on the Koala Kids Foundation visit koalakids.org.au
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