When five-year-old Ayden fell in June 2024, he felt intense pain that was not helped by an over-the-counter pain reliever. His mother, Sandra, knew it was time to take him to the Emergency Room. Ayden was diagnosed with a Wilms tumor, a rare type of kidney cancer that affects children. The tumor on his right kidney had ruptured during the fall and Ayden needed surgery followed by a week of radiation, and weekly chemotherapy.

Sandra is a single parent of Ayden and his two older sisters, Amanda (10) and Ariel (11). Before his illness, she worked full time as a coach at an employment service. Due to Ayden’s treatment schedule, Sandra couldn’t work as frequently, and the Brooklyn family’s life was shaken up in many other ways.

In August 2024, Sandra spoke with Friends of Karen’s Intake Coordinator/ Case Manager Estel and was then paired with our Social Worker Alyssa. After hearing Ayden and his family’s story, Alyssa understood they were in serious need of assistance. Since Ayden’s diagnosis, Sandra’s need to curtail working that summer was a blow to the family’s stability since she is their sole provider.

“When Ayden was diagnosed with a tumor in his kidney everything felt uncertain and I didn’t know how we could manage,” Sandra shared. “Thanks to Friends of Karen, my daughters and I have had incredible support throughout these months. Our social worker Alyssa has been a true lifeline. She has given us financial and emotional support over the six months, providing us with the tools we needed to navigate this journey.”

While Sandra was able to work intermittently, Alyssa collaborated with her to develop a plan for Friends of Karen to assist with rent and car payments, which was important since she needed her car for work and Ayden’s medical appointments. Alyssa provided information on how to apply for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits and coordinated with other organizations to ensure they would not fall behind on their bills.

Ayden received additional emotional support through Friends of Karen’s Sibling Support Program with Child Life Specialist Jennifer to help him build resilience and coping skills. Jennifer has engaged him in bibliotherapy (reading relevant books followed by an activity), worked to help Ayden name his feelings and how to express them, and discussed strategies to help him cope with visits to the clinic for bloodwork.

Ayden is currently doing well and completed his treatment in December 2024. He has returned to school full time. “Alyssa and Jennifer’s care and understanding have meant the world to us,” Sandra said. “Friends of Karen helped us through unimaginable stress, and we will be forever grateful.”

A cancer diagnosis in young adulthood disrupts a critical period of growth and independence. For many, this stage of life is defined by dreams of the future—beginning careers, exploring relationships, and stepping into self-sufficiency. But for young adults like George, a life-threatening illness changes everything. The desire for independence clashes with the harsh reality of needing to rely on others for daily support. Dreams are placed on hold, isolation becomes a constant companion, and guilt over not being able to support oneself can weigh heavily.

George’s story is a poignant example of these challenges. In September 2022 at 22 years old, George was just beginning to build his life when he was diagnosed with High-Risk B-cell Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia and Lymphoma. The diagnosis came after a seemingly minor car accident. While George initially felt fine, he later developed chest pain and difficulty breathing. An MRI revealed a mass, and a biopsy confirmed the diagnosis.

For George, the impact was immediate and overwhelming. Before his diagnosis, he worked in a factory, saving money to move into his own apartment and pursue a more independent life. Now, those plans have been put on hold. Cancer treatments and their side effects, including high-dose steroids, have caused significant physical challenges, leaving George unable to work. He has undergone hip surgery and lost mobility in one arm, further limiting his ability to perform everyday tasks.

Isolation has become a persistent challenge. George often spends days confined to his room, unable to engage with friends or maintain a social life. He feels the weight of relying on others for food, transportation, and help during hospitalizations. The dreams he once held close now feel out of reach, replaced by the immediate need to focus on his health and recovery. Despite these obstacles, George is incredibly insightful and self-aware. Though he is naturally shy and reserved, his sensitivity and kindness shine through. He finds joy in sending gifts to his siblings in Texas, maintaining a bond that brings him comfort and connection. His thoughtfulness and generosity are constant reminders of his enduring strength, even in the face of overwhelming challenges.

Friends of Karen has played a vital role in George’s journey, providing the emotional support he needs to navigate this difficult time. Weekly calls with our Child Life Specialist Melissa gives George a safe space to share his feelings and process his experiences. These conversations have been a lifeline, helping him feel less alone and more understood as he faces the unique struggles of being a young adult with cancer.

George’s journey highlights the many challenges young adults with cancer must overcome and the importance of organizations like Friends of Karen. Through tailored emotional and financial support, Friends of Karen ensures that young adults like George are not alone as they navigate this difficult chapter of their lives.

Friends of Karen was invited recently to participate in Forbes EQ (Equity Quotient) BrandVoice, a content marketing initiative. We are thrilled to have this opportunity, at no cost to Friends of Karen, to showcase the expertise of our talented team to a wider audience. This relationship with Forbes enabled us to develop and publish a series of articles for the Forbes EQ BrandVoice website. The articles address a range of topics, including guidance on having difficult conversations with your children, advice on supporting parents through a child’s serious illness, how volunteering builds connections, sibling relationships, and more.

“While Friends of Karen supports families in acute distress, our approach has applications to everyday situations in any family,” Family Support Program Director Rhonda Ryan, LCSW said. “The depth of knowledge and experience on our staff of social workers, child life specialists, and creative arts therapists makes us well positioned to share practical advice with a broader audience of families.”

The following passage is an expansion of the advice shared in the online Forbes EQ article “How To Help Your Kids Express The Hard Stuff” authored by Friends of Karen Creative Arts Therapist and Sibling Support Program Coordinator Siobhan Casey, ATR-BC, LCAT. Parents may feel ill-equipped to deal with their children’s emotions, so they divert the discussion elsewhere or minimize their feelings. Validating children’s feelings is critical to their processing and coping. Our instinct may be to solve problems and downplay disappointment. Everyone wants to feel validated, and children are no different. We all would rather hear “That must be tough” than “Suck it up.” Providing validation allows children to process their emotions, which makes way for resilience and problem-solving. The goal is to raise children with high emotional intelligence who will be able to cope with conflict and loss throughout their lives.

Both ill children and their siblings are grappling with major changes and losses big and small. We often encourage parents to validate this whether the child has expressed this or not. Saying something like “I’m sorry this is happening but I’m here for you” can make a child feel understood and open up dialogue. Now you can brainstorm to help improve the situation together.

We invite you to read Friends of Karen’s articles on the Forbes EQ BrandVoice website, click here.

Let us know your thoughts; your feedback is important to us. Please email us at: info@friendsofkaren.org.