Written by Robin Hopkins | Illustrated by Nick Ganci

When a parent is diagnosed with an acute illness, child-oriented supportive resources should be deployed during an inordinately stressful, fragile and disorienting period in their child’s lives. Ways to assist children and mitigate some of the long-term impact of its accompanying upheaval often includes one-on-one and family counseling, and peer support groups. The specifics of the situation and corresponding manifestations on a child’s behavior, emotional state and academic performance are variables that are often considered and dictate the sequence of action for the respective circumstance.

What Happens Now? A Children’s Guide to Living When a Loved One is Dying has been developed as a broad response that is designed to equip families with a tool that is complementary to other supportive modalities. What Happens Now? is written through a child’s eyes and uses a storybook format with blank pages for drawing or journaling, a glossary, and a companion guide for adults with the goal of prompting further discussion and offering consistent, frank messaging.

The Podcast
In this Cancer Matters podcast, Dr Bill Nelson speaks with Robin Hopkins, the author of What Happens Now?, and Dr Tom Smith about how we can help children comprehend a #cancer diagnosis in a loved one and encourage an open dialogue about their feelings and emotions. Listen below.