How can I help my kids feel comfortable asking questions about a diagnosis?

When a parent or loved one receives a serious medical diagnosis, children often have questions and emotions they don’t know how to express. In this episode, Mackensi, now a college student, reflects on her experience as an only child in elementary school navigating her father’s cancer diagnosis. She shares the challenges she faced, how she found hope and community through Inheritance of Hope, and offers practical advice for parents: being open about difficult topics, giving kids meaningful roles during hospital visits, and modeling curiosity and questions to help children approach them during health crises. As mentioned in the episode, there is help for you to simplify medical language when talking to kids. You can download the award-winning Simply Saying, Medical Jargon APP created by the Child Life team at Phoenix Children's. You'll find pictures including anatomical images, scripts, an interactive story board and more to support clear communication.For more tips on how to help kids who are grieving, visit this Inheritance of Hope blog post.If you’d like to learn more about volunteering for Inheritance Of Hope visithttps://inheritanceofhope.org/volunteer-with-us/.If you or someone you know is interested in learning more about our retreats and other services check out https://inheritanceofhope.org/find-support/.01:19 Introduction to Mackenzie's Journey02:22 Mackenzie's Inheritance of Hope Retreat Experience02:41 Building Connections and Community through Volunteering05:00 Finding Joy in Trials07:11 Future Aspirations in Cancer Research08:25 Transforming Pain into Purpose09:23 Navigating Feelings of Isolation10:43 Encouraging Open Communication with Kids12:03 Tips on How Best to Share Information15:16 Creating a Safe Space for Conversations16:11 Involving Children in the Process17:42 Offering Practical Support