SuperSibs!

Welcome to your SuperSibs! website! Do visit the site often for updated information, resources, pictures, tools and events to support siblings of children with cancer. Thanks to generous support from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, we are building new website site content to truly ensure that siblings of children with cancer can face the future with strength, courage and hope!

Siblings—Check out your The Sib Spot links each month for new content to help ease your journey! This is just the start of great new support to come!

Parents, Grandparents, Psychosocial and Medical Professionals, Teachers, Religious/Spiritual Leaders, Friends and other Support Teams—see the For You links to access specific elements based on your role in this journey.

Supporters—please visit all other areas of our website to refer a child, donate funds or services, learn more about our program and special events and much more. Without you, we could never keep up with the swelling demand for sibling support. Thank you!

Introduction to SuperSibs!

Every day in the United States and Canada, more than 46 children are diagnosed with cancer. And every day, the brothers and sisters of these children are thrust into a world of experiences that will leave a lasting mark on their lives forever.

This mark may be a positive influence to negotiate life moving forward or it may be a painful "emotional scar" from which to heal. Over 18,000 new siblings are affected each year, as his or her brother or sister is diagnosed with cancer.

When a child is diagnosed with cancer, EVERYONE in the family needs healing, including the siblings. These vulnerable brothers and sisters are often left with insufficient support from which to understand that they're not alone, they're not at fault and that their feelings are valid. Together, we can help siblings understand — especially during the fight against cancer — that they are special and important people, too, and that there is support available for their unique needs. SuperSibs! has worked tirelessly to help change the culture of pediatric oncology to ensure that sibling support is integrated into all aspects of care. While we’ve made great strides, we have a long way to go to help these thousands of vulnerable children and teens heal.

In October 2007, The Institute of Medicine released a special report highlighting the need for integrated, ongoing psychosocial services for patients and their families. SuperSibs! believes this is a right for every member of the family, to ensure total family healing. We pledge to help siblings redefine the "cancer sibling" experience - by educating and equipping professionals nationwide to integrate these services, and by providing barrier-free direct support to siblings and their families across the U.S. and Canada. Thank you for exploring our website for your role in this journey!

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This website was supported by grant number 1U58DP001112-01 from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.  Its contents are solely the responsibility of the authors and do not necessarily represent the official view of Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.