Het laatste nieuws van Ukandu

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.

Een aflevering van More Than Medicine

Dit was mijn eerste Ukandu Family Camp.

Maandenlang had ik mensen erover horen praten met een soort ontzag dat moeilijk te verklaren was. Gezinnen telden de dagen af tot het kamp. Vrijwilligers glimlachten wanneer ze erover vertelden. Collega's zeiden simpelweg: “Je zult het begrijpen zodra je er bent.”

Ze hadden gelijk.

Een aflevering van More Than Medicine

Juni is de Nationale Maand voor de Geestelijke Gezondheid van Mannen.

Net als veel mannen ben ik best goed in mezelf ervan overtuigen dat dingen kunnen wachten. Een hardnekkig symptoom? Vast niks. Oplopende stress? Daar kijk ik later wel naar. Iets voelt niet helemaal goed? Laten we nog een paar weken afwachten en kijken wat er gebeurt.

Als dat bekend klinkt, ben je niet de enige.

Een aflevering van More Than Medicine

Er gebeurt iets buitengewoons bij Camp Ukandu.

Voor één bijzondere week, op één heel bijzondere plek, mogen de dingen die iedereen samenbrachten (de diagnoses, de behandelingen, de verliezen, de scans, de littekens) een tijdje rusten.

En mensen mogen simpelweg mens zijn met elkaar.

A More Than Medicine Installment

Recently, after spending time talking with some of our incredible Ukandu volunteers about grief, loss, and the experiences so many families in our community carry, I found myself continuing to think about grief long after the conversation ended. Not just grief after death, but the quieter forms of grief that families living with serious illness often carry every single day.

A More Than Medicine Installment

I’ve worked in mental health in some capacity for more than 20 years now. Different settings. Different communities. Different ages and populations. Hospitals, schools, nonprofits, clinics, camps, crisis moments, ordinary moments. And through all of it, one thing has remained true: people need each other.

Not perfectly. Not with the right words all the time. But consistently, honestly, and humanly.