Resources

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.

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.

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. 

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.

The Cancer Support Community (CSC) is an international non-profit organization committed to providing support, education and hope to anyone affected by cancer. As one of the largest employers of psychosocial oncology mental health professionals in the United States, the organization offers a network of personalized services and education for all people affected by cancer.

Hospitality Homes provides short-term housing in volunteer host homes for families and friends of patients receiving medical care in the Boston area. Their services are free of charge and are made possible by the generosity of our volunteer hosts and supporters.  Founded in 1983, Hospitality Homes was the first program of its kind in the nation. Since 1983, Hospitality Homes has served more than 15,300 families.

JTV Cancer Support is a project for teenagers and young adults who have been affected by cancer. They believe in sharing experiences of cancer creatively. Using all aspects of media JTV enables young people to explore and express their feelings, and make some sense of their very personal journeys from diagnosis onwards.

Wish Upon a Wedding is the only wedding granting organization in the world. They grant weddings and vow renewals to couples facing terminal illness or life-altering health circumstances. They help couples alleviate the financial burden and time commitment that planning a wedding entails, allowing the couples to focus on dealing with their treatments and spending time with their loved ones. If your medical illness or life-altering circumstance has impeded your wedding plans, you live in the United States, and are 18 or older, Wish Upon a Wedding may be able to help.