“Honestly, it makes a big difference to realize you are not forgotten.”
- Katie, YARMA participant
This January, we invited 11 Young Adult Shining Stars, or as one participant framed it, “grown-up kiddos,” to attend the 2020 Young Adult Rocky Mountain Adventure. This program is featured in one of our newest initiatives, aimed at supporting our Shining Stars as they survive and thrive into adulthood.
Some challenges these pediatric cancer survivors face?
PTSD (Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder) from lasting memories of aggressive treatment
Anxiety and/or depression regarding the possible return of their illness
Residual health effects of their illness, including disability, compromised fertility, “chemo brain,” etc.
Social isolation and/or limited social education due to childhood trauma
At this year’s YARMA retreat, we heard from Young Adults who struggled with each of these challenges. To help meet these challenges, we teamed up with Dr. Tom Smith, a pediatric oncologist at Children’s Colorado, and Dr. Karen Smith, a licensed School Psychologist who focuses on treating children with disabilities in their transition to adulthood.
Each evening, we sat by the fire at the Arapahoe Lodge in Winter Park and had deep, meaningful conversations about each participant’s cancer journey- and about the challenges they face today. Dr. Tom presented targeted information regarding physical well-being for an adult pediatric cancer survivor, while Dr. Karen offered resources for continued emotional, mental, and social health.
Each day, the Shining Stars Young Adults hit the slopes at Winter Park Resort with the National Sports Center for the Disabled, where they received one-on-one instruction in skiing, snowboarding, ski-biking, sit-skiing, and more. Just like at the Aspen Winter Games, we once again show participants all they are physically capable of and the mountains they can climb if they only believe in themselves.
Perhaps the most meaningful resource we provided throughout the week was the group itself. These young adults are unique. After all, according to The Amercian Cancer Society, only 11,050 children in the entire United States will be diagnosed with cancer in 2020. It isn’t every day that our participants get the chance to share their experiences with others who completely understand their struggle.
“To know I’m not alone in what I’m going through as a survivor makes the load more bearable, “ one participant explained. “I am a very social person- I am close with my family and friends. Still, none of them really get what I am going through quite like [this group does.]”
At the end of the week, participants are invited to begin a new journey with Shining Stars, and the second part of our Young Adult initiative - the Mentorship Program. If they decide to move forward, each participant will attend our fall Mentorship Retreat, where we’ll dig into their goals and needs. After that, they are assigned a volunteer Mentor who suits those needs and can guide these Shining Stars as they reach for the stars!
This new Young Adult initiative aims to show these Shining Stars that they have not been forgotten. In their years as pediatric cancer patients, a slew of opportunities existed for them to learn, grow, and move forward in spite of their illness. Once they turn 18, these opportunities fade away, but their challenges remain. With this initiative, we seek to open their eyes to the possibilities of life again.
To learn more about how you can support this new Shining Stars initiative,
email office@shiningstarsfoundation.org today!
