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When Cancer Joins The Family: St. Vincent's Offers Support, Answers For Parents, Kids

Jenny Lehman
/
St. Vincent's

A program at St. Vincent’s hospital is helping families with young kids learn to cope with cancer. The support group is called Kids Together Against Cancer.    

At any given time, between four and eight North Florida families are attending the meetings at St. Vincent’s. Kids Together Against Cancer welcomes all families dealing with cancer, regardless of where parents are receiving treatment.

Social worker and coordinator Jenny Lehman says many parents have the same question: “How much information do I tell my children and does that change based on their age?”

For kids, the group offers art therapy and a chance to ask their own questions. Lehman says the staff guide parents based on what children already know and what they think they can handle.

Meetings are at St. Vincent’s in Riverside.

For more information visit the Kids Together Against Cancer Facebook page or call 904-308-KTAC (5822).

Jessica Palombo supervises local news gathering and production, podcasts and web editorial content for WJCT News, ADAPT and Jacksonville Today. She is an award-winning writer and journalist with bylines including NPR, Experience Magazine, and The Gainesville Sun. She has a master’s degree in broadcast and digital journalism from Syracuse University and is an alumna of the University of Florida. A nearly lifelong resident of Jacksonville, she considers herself lucky to be raising her own children in her hometown. Follow Jessica Palombo on Twitter: @JaxJessicaP