Miracle Flights provides free flights to those in need of life-changing medical care not found in their local communities. Qualifying families can receive travel assistance for a child patient and up to 2 parents or legal guardians. Flights for adult patients (age 18 and up) are provided for the patient and caregiver, if medically necessary.
Between Two Kingdoms is the well-written memoir of Suleika Jaouad. It is a deeply moving story of illness and recovery that traces one young woman’s cancer journey from diagnosis to remission to re-entry into “normal” life. Some readers may recognize her name from her syndicated “Life, Interrupted” column from the New York Times.
Imerman Angels partners anyone seeking cancer support with a “Mentor Angel.” A Mentor Angel is a cancer survivor or survivor’s caregiver who is the same age, same gender, and most importantly who has faced the same type of cancer. The matching service is free and helps anyone touched by any type of cancer, at any cancer stage level, at any age, living anywhere in the world.
Cancer: 50 Essential Things to Do by Greg Anderson empowers cancer patients and their loved ones to move beyond their disease. Greg Anderson, a cancer survivor, designed this book for the recently diagnosed, those with recurring symptoms, and those who are well but have a lingering fear that the disease may strike again.
Jack and Jill Late Stage Cancer Foundation treats families to ” WOW experiences”, giving children who will lose their Mom or Dad to cancer a timeout to create indispensable memories as a family…while they can. JAJF’s Oncology Coalition Partners across the United States prescribe families WOW! Experiences as part of the treatment protocol for the patient, spouse and children. The foundation helps families strictly from oncologists’ referrals.
Ronald McDonald House Charities supports and facilitates family-centered care. Their Ronald McDonald House programs, located near top children’s hospitals, allow parents who are far from home to stay close to their hospitalized child and benefit from the comforts of home without incurring hotel and food costs. Many major medical centers have a Ronald McDonald house nearby for families with children under treatment, making the organization a good resource to locate temporary residence options. Every Ronald McDonald House provides a comfortable, safe place to stay, plus the compassion and hospitality of staff, volunteers, and other families — all just steps away from the hospital.
For Pete’s Sake Cancer Respite Foundation provides adult cancer patients (24-55 years of age), their caregivers and their children with a break from cancer at one of their respite locations. Their Cancer Respite Program includes two forms, Travel Respite and Staycation Respite. Both experiences are transformative and address the emotional, psychosocial, financial, physical and spiritual traumas that families confront with a cancer diagnosis. FPS works with oncology professionals at leading cancer centers to create these care-free, cost-free respite experiences.
Deliver The Dream provides therapeutic programs to families facing a serious illness, crisis or disability. Its programs restore hope, strengthen relationships and change perspectives to provide inspiration for the future. Most of its participants live in the state of Florida, however, they serve families throughout the United States.
CaringBridge provides a forum for updates on the patient’s condition and a platform for supportive comments from site visitors. Family and friends are an amazing source of support for a patient, but constantly sharing updates with each and every one of them is impractical. CaringBridge replaces countless texts and emails with a free, easy-to-use communications platform that includes on-line journal and care planning capabilities.