No one likes to think about a child dealing with a serious illness especially cancer but the reality is that childhood cancer is one of the number one illnesses that affect children from newborn to late teens. As a pediatric/neonatal nurse children with cancer and serious illnesses are close to my heart so it is important  to help remind others during Childhood Cancer Awareness month that there are things we all can do to help with childhood cancer research.

Things we can do:

Pray. Prayer is the first and most important thing that Christians can do regarding any situation where we feel totally helpless. Prayers for those doing research, those with the finances to support research and clinical trials, and those whose child is depending on finding the right treatments from the research are specific prayers to our God.

Give: Giving can be in the form of money to fund cancer research or to fund a specific organization that assists parents and children with cancer but it can also be in the form of giving your time or your talent in other ways that support kids with cancer. Maybe you make jewelry or some other item that can be sold to support cancer research. Maybe you know a family with a child who is ill and you can give your time making meals or doing errands to help the family during stressful times. Maybe you sew and can make quilts, hats, or capes for children who are heroes and heroines fighting this battle. There are endless ways to give. Any amount of time or money, gift or meal will be appreciated by those in battle.

Support: Supporting families who have a child with cancer can be one of the best ways you can help. Community fundraising benefits, offering babysitting, doing lawn care and household chores when a parent has no time, and sometimes just being a listening ear all show support for both the family and the child. Sharing your knowledge on the subject of childhood cancer can also benefit your community by educating and organizing support groups for cancer research long before a community might have a child affected.

Don’t keep your head in the sand just because childhood cancer is a tough topic. Childhood cancer research is underfunded and often misunderstood. Childhood cancer research and treatment is an important aspect of healthcare needing each of us to pray, give, and support by spreading the word about childhood cancer especially during September. Feel free to comment on other ways we as Christians can support childhood cancer awareness and those families in need of our love.