Bright Spot Network

The Michigan Department of Health and Human Services provided us with another great resource from Bright Spot Network. 🎃 Cancer can add extra challenges during the holidays, especially for parents of young children. That's where Bright Spot Network steps in, offering a safe space for cancer survivors to heal and reconnect with their families. Sunday, October 27 from 4 p.m. to 5 p.m. ET, they're hosting a virtual Halloween party for families. Dress up, log on and enjoy festive games and activities. All you need to do is register and log-on to Zoom! Click the link for more details: https://bit.ly/4dUh57A. #Resource #MDHHS #BrightSpotNetwork #VirtualHalloweenParty

Navigating cancer while raising young kids is no easy task, but Bright Spot Network is here to help! We're excited to feature this amazing organization, providing free virtual support for parents, partners, and children. Join Executive Director Haley Pollack and Director of Programs Carissa Hodgson, LCSW, OSW-C, as they share valuable insights and resources to support families facing a cancer diagnosis. 🎟️ Register for this FREE virtual webinar here: https://bit.ly/4dWTeEo

No one understands the unique needs of young adult cancer patients quite like our dedicated front-line mental health workers—oncology social workers and nurse navigators. 💚 These incredible professionals connect patients with vital resources to tackle social isolation, financial stress, and the many challenges of parenting while undergoing treatment. They see it all and provide support every step of the way. That’s why we love hearing from social workers at our partner hospitals about the impactful work of Bright Spot Network. Together, we’re making a difference!

We are so excited to have Sandy Ferber Brine join Bright Spot Network’s Board of Directors.  "I am honored to join the Board of this highly impactful organization that is addressing the unique challenges faced by an increasingly younger population with cancer.  Bright Spot Network is the first and only organization of its kind to address the specific and otherwise unmet needs of parents coping with cancer while raising young children, and I look forward to helping expand its reach to all families who could benefit from BSN's support." #BrightSpotNetwork #ParentingWithCancer #BoardofDirectors

The "The Adventure Jar" is a new children's book developed by Gilead Sciences in partnership with the metastatic breast cancer community to help navigate the complex emotions that come when a parent is diagnosed with MBC. The story follows one family as they discover the magic of togetherness, even when MBC keeps them close to home. This book provides a unique way to help start conversations about MBC, while also helping families find magic in everyday life. We are so excited for "The Adventure Jar" to get into the hands of families and we are thrilled that Bright Spot Network was able to partner with Gilead Sciences through the creation of a discussion guide to accompany the book! This guide is there to help the conversations sparked while reading "The Adventure Jar" to keep on going. We can't wait to hear what you think. You can order your own copy here: https://lnkd.in/gsYfiJR7 Check it out the discussion guide here: https://lnkd.in/gm_2qHW2

Thank you Samantha Reese for sharing your reflections on working with Bright Spot Network! We are so grateful for everything you do for parents with cancer and thrilled to have you on the team. 🧡 Do you have something you want to share? We’d love to feature you on our blog! Email us at contact@brightspotnetwork.org or send us a dm!

See you in Austin!

In partnership with Brain Tumor Network, we are thrilled to launch our new coloring book, Coloring Cancer: A Colorful Way to Understand Brain Tumors. We are hearing from more and more parents with brain tumors that they are looking for ways to talk to their children about the side effects of brain tumors and treatment. This coloring book is a new tool for your toolbox to help young children better understand a parent’s brain tumor. This coloring book is: - 14 creative coloring pages designed for kids who have a parent with a brain tumor - a new ways for parents to find a jumping off point to talk to their kids about a brain tumor - full of tips and advice about talking to your kids about a parent’s brain tumor - FREE and downloadable from the BSN website so you can return to it again and again Even young children pick up on new words being spoken in your home and seeing pictures can help them grasp key concepts and feelings. Sitting together to color and talk is a great way to connect. And who doesn’t enjoy coloring? It’s a calm, meditative, and creative activity that kids can do independently, with a sibling, or with an adult. You are never too old to color! Thank you Brain Tumor Network for partnering in the creation of this coloring book and to Chelsey Gomez for the AMAZING illustrations. 

Check out Haley Pollack, Bright Spot Network's Executive Director on The Career Changers podcast!

Join us for a Parenting with Cancer Webinar! Sex After Cancer: Maintaining Intimacy and Connection for Couples Date: Wednesday, June 26 Time: 10am PST/11am MTN/12pm CST/1pm EST Sexuality and intimacy are vital, rich, and pleasurable parts of life, and maintaining intimacy and connection for couples after a cancer diagnosis can be challenging. Join Bright Spot Network and oncology-certified Licensed Clinical Social Worker, Lauren Broschak from Inova Health for a frank and honest conversation about maintaining intimacy and connection after a cancer diagnosis. Sign up: https://lnkd.in/g5k67GV2