EN
Healing Outside the Hospital
for families battling childhood cancer
About Ukandu
Since 1986, Ukandu has served families throughout Oregon and across the region. Ukandu creates safe spaces where the weight of suffering, uncertainty, and feelings of helplessness are confronted by their most worthy adversaries - compassion, community, solidarity, and love - 100% free of charge.
The Need for Ongoing, Year-Round Support
Drawing from decades of experience and research conducted with OHSU's Knight Cancer Institute, we are expanding our offerings to address the desire for deeper, year-round services that foster prolonged connection, lasting bonds, and ongoing support. The Loft will be the first of its kind in the US.
The Ukandu Loft
Opening in Winter of 2025, The Loft will become a new hub and headquarters for Ukandu staff and our more than 250 volunteers. This first-of-its-kind pediatric cancer family resource center will provide unique, holistic, wraparound programming to the entire family from the moment of diagnosis, throughout treatment, and beyond.
Programming
Permanent office space for staff and volunteers
Drop-in hours six days a week
Support group discussions
- Families newly diagnosed
- Managing parenting, marriage, and cancer
- "What about ME!?" - a sibling's cancer journey
- Maintaining family after a child dies
- Long-term survivorship
Mental health services provided by licensed clinicians
- Mental health services provided by licensed clinicians
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What Our Community Says
I think The Loft is an opportunity to be thought leaders and growth leaders in the medical community and create something that people will look at and say 'Every kid should have that. Every family should have that. A hub, a place where they can go to, where they can feel seen and supported' We want that."
Dr. Amy King | Licensed Psychologist, Pediatric Health and Early Childhood Education Expert
"We need a place within the community that allows families to get together, to feel a sense of community, to be able to relate with one another, and to tell stories of and share stories of what they've been through. I think that Ukandu is well-suited to provided this community space because they've been doing it for a long time. I think it will be a great place outside of the hospital to help heal."
Dr. Jason Glover | Pediatric Oncologist, Randall Children's Hospital, and Ukandu Medical Director
Maybe the best therapists for cancer families are other cancer families. And the reason we're all connected in because of Ukandu.
- Ukandu Parent
I really truly feel that in one focused week, I was able to work through a lot of the stress that I've been piling up for years.
- Ukandu Parent