Les dernières nouvelles d'Ukandu

This is a More Than Medicine Installment

A little over a week ago, we welcomed Friends of the Ukandu Family from near and far to the Ukandu Family Reunion. Some have been part of Ukandu for decades. Others are just beginning to discover what this community can mean. There were familiar faces, first-time visitors, and people whose paths might never have crossed were it not for a childhood cancer diagnosis.

It was loud. It was joyful. It was wonderfully, beautifully human.

And it was exactly what The Loft was built for.

Il y a des années, Emily Perl Kingsley a écrit Welcome to Holland, un essai sur la préparation d'un voyage qui s'avère tout autre : la vie vous a mené quelque part de complètement différent. Tu avais prévu l'Italie. Tu imaginais à quoi cela ressemblerait. Tu t'y étais préparé. Tu voyais déjà les endroits où tu irais et les expériences que tu vivrais. Et puis l'avion atterrit ailleurs.

J'ai souvent repensé à cette métaphore au fil des années, assis auprès de familles dont la vie a été bouleversée par le cancer d'un enfant.

As I walked through The Loft surrounded by families, friends, partners, supporters, and people who have helped imagine this place into existence, I was struck by something one of our parents, Julia Thompson, said in remarks to commemorate the day:

The audacity.

The audacity of Ukandu to believe families affected by childhood cancer deserve something this extraordinary.

Throughout Childhood Cancer Awareness Month, we’re sharing stories about what childhood cancer asks of children and families—not only during treatment, but long after it ends.

This week, we turn to what comes after treatment—and why the word “survivor”, while worthy of celebration, doesn’t always tell the whole story.

A More Than Medicine Installment

For families affected by childhood cancer or another serious medical condition, "back to school" can mean something entirely different. School may not look the way it once did. For families affected by childhood cancer or another serious medical condition, "back to school" can mean something entirely different. School may not look the way it once did.

A More Than Medicine Installment

For families affected by childhood cancer or another serious medical condition, "back to school" can mean something entirely different. School may not look the way it once did. For families affected by childhood cancer or another serious medical condition, "back to school" can mean something entirely different. School may not look the way it once did.

Un épisode de More Than Medicine

C'était mon premier Ukandu Family Camp.

Pendant des mois, j'avais entendu des gens en parler avec une sorte de révérence difficile à expliquer. Les familles comptaient les jours qui les séparaient du camp. Les bénévoles souriaient quand ils en parlaient. Mes collègues disaient simplement : « Tu comprendras une fois sur place. »

Ils avaient raison.

A More Than Medicine Installment

June is National Men's Mental Health Month.

Like many men, I'm pretty good at convincing myself that things can wait. A nagging symptom? Probably nothing. Stress building up? I'll deal with it later. Something doesn't feel quite right? Let's give it a few more weeks and see what happens.

If that sounds familiar, you're not alone.

Un épisode de More Than Medicine

Il se passe quelque chose d'extraordinaire à Camp Ukandu.

Pendant une semaine bien spéciale, dans un lieu très particulier, les choses qui ont réuni tout le monde (les diagnostics, les traitements, les pertes, les examens, les cicatrices) peuvent se reposer un moment.

Et les gens peuvent simplement être humains les uns avec les autres.