Kenzie's Gift

https://lnkd.in/gtYg4emW I recently swam from Spain to Africa raising funds for Kenzie's Gift . It was a wonderful adventure and I have written a blog about it here. Enjoy!

Finding the words to explain profound topics like death and grief to our children and young people is really hard. Age-appropriate books on these topics can be so helpful for framing the concepts of death and grief, and can support you in this tough process. Watch our Kenzie's Gift clinical psychologist, Dr Freyja Mann, describe how beneficial books on tough topics can be 💙📚 There are lots and lots of children's books on death and grief out there; it’s about finding the ones that fit with your child / young person’s age and personality, and your family’s beliefs. When you find a book that resonates with you and your whānau, treasure it! Keep it on the bookshelf and return to it over time as a way of opening up the conversation about the death of your loved one with your children.   As a starting point, we've reviewed a few books for children and young people that we think offer thoughtful, sensitive ways of dealing with death and grief, supported by beautifully engaging illustrations. Visit our website to check them out: https://lnkd.in/gTmiBmeX

We get it. Finding the right words to say to a grieving person can be tricky. That’s why we’ve compiled a list of things to say and not to say.  Some of these suggestions may be difficult to hear, but please remember that these are Nic’s personal opinions, shaped by her own experiences and years of working with Kiwi families whose precious tamariki / children have died. This personal touch is what makes this advice so valuable. Read the full post here 🫶 https://lnkd.in/gwECAKmB

Huge thank you to our amazing supporter, the Rātā Foundation  🌈 Without organisations like the Rātā Foundation, Kenzie's Gift and the work we do for tamariki (children) and mātātahi (young people) affected by serious illness and grief, they couldn't exist. We don’t receive government funding and rely on the amazing generosity of our supporters and individuals to keep our essential mental health services running. Check out all our supporters on our website. We couldn't do it without you💙

After your taitamaiti / child finishes treatment, you might be wondering what happens next—how do you get back to life as it was before serious illness took hold?  Well-meaning loved ones might say, "Now you can get back to normal!" but ‘normal’ after a serious illness can be very different from how it was before. You’ll probably feel that things will never be ‘normal’ again. (It’s ‘normal’ to feel this way!) It's one thing to be aware that you need to establish a routine once more and resume the activities that your child's serious illness forced you to put on hold. Making it happen can be another! That’s because you might come up against these issues. Here are some thoughts from our team of registered mental health professionals:

🏊♂️🏔️ Dive into the Ultimate Winter Swim Challenge with me, Nic, founder of Kenzie's Gift! This weekend, I'm teaming up with fellow winter swimmer and bereaved mama Sarah Luxon for a breathtaking plunge in the icy waters of Lake Tekapo. 🌊❄️ 🧡 Living with grief and the challenges of health issues, we've both found strength and comfort in cold water swimming. It brings us into the moment and the awe of being alive. 🌟 We’re not only swimming for our mental health but to raise vital funds for Kenzie's Gift, providing mental health support to Kiwi kids whose mama, papa, brother or sister have tragically died or are living with serious illness. 💪 Ready to support us? Dive into our donation page and help us make a difference, or sign up for your own polar plunge: https://lnkd.in/g4ixQadX A huge shout out to our sponsors for helping to make it happen, @DiscoverTekapoAccommodation and @JucyWorld #KenzieGift #WinterSwimChallenge #LakeTekapo #SouthernAlps #SwimForACause #MentalHealthMatters

Having conversations with tamariki / children about mate pukupuku / Cancer can be challenging and hard to navigate. That's why at Kenzie's Gift we have created a support kit to help guide you through this conversation🌈 🎗️ Our guide offers tips for parents on sharing diagnoses with tamariki / children,  along with engaging activities to help your tamariki / children understand. This guide also comes with support resources, however, it is important to remember that professional help is always available when needed. 💜💙 Click this link to get your hands on this support kit. 🫶 https://lnkd.in/gD2YRThg #kenziesgift #grief #griefsupport #mentalhealth #kenziecommunity #nzcharity

Huge thank you to our amazing supporter Foundation North 🤗 Without organisations like Foundation North  Kenzie's Gift and the work we do for tamariki (children) and mātātahi (young people) affected by serious illness & grief simply couldn't exist. We don’t receive any government funding and rely on the amazing generosity of our supporters and individuals to keep our essential mental health services running. Check out all our supporters on our website. We couldn't do it without you💙

A massive shout out to all of our amazing swimmers and donors - you're helping us make a positive impact on the lives of Kiwi Kids who are going through life's toughest times! Want to get involved? It's not too late! Show your support by signing up for the winter swim, or sponsor one of our swimmers! https://lnkd.in/gUFSGhUw Thank you from the bottom of our hearts 💕🧸

When someone dies, it can be really difficult to know what to say. Here are Kenzie’s Gift founder and bereaved māma / mum Nic’s thoughts. Read the full article here 💙 https://lnkd.in/gwECAKmB