Alan A. Stone, MD. Psychiatric Times
“This is a book that should be put in the hands of every family bringing a child with cancer to a hospital and every professional involved in the care of these children. But it is also a book for mental health professionals to read, to learn, and to admire a vocation of caring in the presence of death … It is a book I wish I had read in medical school.”
Michael Yogman, MD. Pediatrician
“I think every children’s hospital and cancer center should give this book to parents on admission.”
Harvard Magazine
“[Breyer] proves to be the expert, friend and advocate everyone needs: informative, steady, sympathetic, and-if treatment fails-unflinching at the prospect of loss.”
S. Berg, Amazon Reviewer
“Oh, how I wish this were available two years ago when my grandson was diagnosed with leukemia. Every pediatric oncologist should give it to parents along with the diagnosis. It is not a medical guide, which is what you usually get from the doctor, but a practical guide about what to expect and how to deal with all the challenges.”
A bereaved parent
“I was moved beyond words when I read the powerful book you wrote. I’m truly grateful to you for this beautiful gift you have given caregivers of children who have complex medical conditions. This book is relevant to families with children who have a range of conditions, as well as to the range of caregivers who are dedicated to them.”
Editorial review, Non Fiction Book Awards
This is an awesome book by Joanna Breyer. I wish I had it when David was going through his cancer treatments. It tells about how to talk to children about their illness, how to use relaxation and distraction techniques, dealing with sibling issues, working with your medical team…so many things! Each section describes how to talk with your children depending on their age—babies and toddlers, school-age, or adolescent. There are also tips included to help yourself during this difficult time. Near the end is a section on Survivor-ship and the issues you deal with following the cancer treatments and then a section on bereavement. At the very end are pages of resources and agencies, books, and online support and there is even an index which I think is very helpful.
I found this book to ring true and have a lot of helpful ideas. There are some things we used with David but many more resources, books, and ideas are out there to help make this time smoother for you and your entire family.
Although much of the book is geared toward children with cancer, this book also discusses dealing with other serious illnesses or accidents. Navigating the pathways of the hospital and medical fields, as well as dealing with the repercussions of medical treatments can be very hard or devastating. This book is a great guide for parents or caretakers.
Blyth Lord, Founder, Courageous Parents Network
“There is much in this book that I believe will be helpful to all families, not just cancer families. Specifically, I commend to you the sections on (1) coping techniques to help with anxiety during treatments and procedures; (2) how to talk with children about life and death, including their own; (3) siblings. We believe that this content stands out in the resource universe and is potentially of great interest to many providers and families well beyond the cancer community.”
Reviewer, Non Fiction Book Awards
This book is very needed for parents of children with cancer. I am really glad to see it being published. It is an excellent book!
Reviewer, Non Fiction Book Awards
This is a book that parents should read so that they will know the basics of caring for a sick child and hopefully will not call the doctor over a stuffy nose, but will know when to call a doctor or just take their child to the ER for care that they do not feel that they can offer to the sick child. The book seems to be easy to follow, but I am a nurse. The author was detailed so that parents could find some of the answers they need to care for the sick child. Hopefully this book will give parents the confidence they need to care for their own children and know when they need more professional help.