Resource Developed
■ Valuing relationships with loved ones
■ Learning to seek information
■ Discovering how to use imagination helpfully
■ Learning how to create positive thoughts
■ Developing appropriate coping strategies
■ Learning to laughOutcomes Offered
■ Validation of feelings
■ Utilization of imagery
■ Utilization of humor
■ Positive thinking
■ Knowing difficulties can be overcome
Let me tell you about a girl called Jill. Jill was scared. Her doctor said she had cancer. She was
even more scared when she heard her mom crying and her dad trying to comfort her. She remem-
bered hearing Mom and Dad talking about an uncle who died of cancer... and that was scary, to
think that sometimespeople who got cancer could die.
She didn’t much like the hospital where the doctor had sent her for the tests. It had big, cold cor-
ridors, strange smells, and lots of sick-looking kids. She didn’t like the doctors asking questions, stick-
ing needles in her arms, or making her lie still on the table, all alone with a machine that made
whirring noises. As well as scared, she felt lonely. She didn’t know what was going on.
The person who seemed to understand most was her grandmother. One day she said, “Come
and sit beside me, my little princess.” Jill liked it when she called her that. She felt special, and snug-
gled up to Nana like she had done for as long as she could remember. When she was younger Nana
had told her stories; now they often just sat together and talked about the events of her day.
“You must be feeling pretty scared,” Nana said. “I think I would be if I was in your shoes.” This
was the first time Jill had heard an adult say they might be scared. “What frightens you the most?”
Nana asked, caringly.
Jill replied, “Am I going to die?”
Nana looked her in the eyes, held both her hands, and said, “I can’t give you a definite answer
on that, but the doctor says that you have a very good chance of overcoming the cancer and getting
well again. Sometimes people do die of cancer, as you know. The doctors have found some very ef-
fective treatments these days and most people get over it successfully. You have some positive things
on your side. You are young and otherwise healthy, and we will do everything we can to make sure
you get the best treatment to get well again.
“Apart from that,” she continued, “what else frightens you?”
“I guess I’m scared that I don’t know what’s going on,” said Jill. “Sometimes the doctors don’t
talk to me about what they’re doing. Sometimes Mom and Dad don’t talk to me, either.”
“What would make it easier for you to ask when you need to know things?” asked Nana.
“Would it help to tell them it’s important for you to know?”
200 Healing Stories, Teaching Stories