4 days ago
Hopeful Hearts provides free virtual support for parents of pediatric cancer patients
BAY COUNTY, Fla. (WMBB) – When Kirsten Leynes took her 4-year-old daughter Vyla to the pediatric emergency room, she thought she was just sick.
After some tests, she found out Vyla had a form of kidney cancer, called Wilms' tumor. She had to make some quick decisions, but had no one to ask for help.
'She had to be operated on in four days. So they removed her left kidney, and she underwent six months of chemotherapy. And that was it,' Hopeful Hearst Peer Mentor Kirsten Leynes said.
Vyla is now cancer-free, in year three of remission.
'Vyla has certainly had a big fight, and she's doing big things. And I'm proud of the way that she's come so far since her own journey,' Leynes said.
However, Leynes says she wishes she had someone who knew what she and her child were going through during treatment.
'You're making big decisions for your child, such as big medical decisions that will impact them for the rest of their life. So, it can be very hard to shoulder alone,' Leynes added.
When Leynes heard about the Hopeful Hearts program, she was one of the first to sign up as a mentor. She will meet with parents who have kids currently going through cancer treatment.
'Talking to somebody who understands not just what it's like in the moment, but also can speak to what you might be able to anticipate when your child reaches that post-treatment survivor's survivorship stage. It makes a real difference. It offers, you know, hope. It offers information. It offers resources and support that you can only get from somebody who's been there,' Hopeful Hearts Executive Director Beth Blakey said.
The Cancer Hope Network created Hopeful Hearts to fill a support gap for caregivers of pediatric cancer patients.
The program already has 70 mentors.
'We are here to make sure that parents know that they're not alone, that they can access this type of support on their own time. It's free, it is virtual, and you can connect when you need that support most,' Blakey added.
Hopeful Hearts is a nationwide program. For more information on how to get involved, click here.
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