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Grief and Bereavement Support

The Hematology-Oncology department at Cook Children’s is dedicated to helping families grieve and grow while anticipating, experiencing or processing the death of a child.

Despite remarkable advances in diagnosis and treatment, cancer remains a leading cause of death among children, adolescents and young adults. For this unique population, the grief often begins long before death and for caregivers and family members, grief persists well after their loved one is gone. Many young patients with incurable or progressive disease worry about the parents, caregivers and siblings they will leave behind and how they will cope in the wake of loss. Our mission is to companion families on this journey, while honoring each patient’s legacy, through individualized support before, during and after the death of a loved one.

These services are free of charge and available to any family served by the Hematology-Oncology department within Cook Children’s Healthcare System. All aspects of our program are also available in English and Spanish.

Legacy building

We believe legacies are as much about life as they are about loss. Each child has their own dreams and wishes, and we want to help make those a part of their unique story. Some ways we can work to help enhance each patient’s quality of life include:

  • Collaborate with Child Life to promote positive memory making experiences, create meaningful keepsakes, and explore legacy building opportunities in and outside of the hospital setting.
  • Partner with resources such as Make a Wish, Project 4031, Dream Foundation and other philanthropic organizations that support children, teens and young adults, along with their caregivers, through difficult seasons. 
  • Coordinate with the multidisciplinary team including oncology, palliative care, child life, social work, and spiritual care, to explore goals, values, and priorities unique to each individual family and provide a tailored plan of care.

Anticipatory grief support and care coordination

We're here to ease the burden so you can focus on what matters most - your family. Our Family Care Coordinator works closely with your psychosocial and medical teams to ensure we're providing the highest quality of patient and family-centered care for you during this time of uncertainty. We can provide support by:

  • Partnering with case management and nursing for needs such as financial assistance, medical support at home, FMLA paperwork and school individualized education plans (IEPs).
  • Collaborate with Child Life to provide anticipatory guidance and support for patients, siblings and family members.
  • Early referrals for counseling, play therapy, support groups or other mental health services.

Bereavement support

In the Hematology-Oncology department, families often hear or see the phrase, “no one walks alone”. This stands true not only during your child’s medical journey, but after as well. Our bereavement program is available to parents, caregivers, siblings and family members for two years after the death of a loved one. Through our adaptable programs and engagement opportunities, we strive to be a stepping-stone of support, encouragement and community for the road ahead. We encourage you to opt into the program(s) that feel right for you and your family.

  • The GROW (Gaining Resiliency Our Way) bereavement box program: This innovative program, created by our Family Care Coordinator, aims to empower families to grieve, grow and thrive… together. By bringing together Dr. Alan Wolfelt’s Six Reconciliation Needs of Mourning with a family systems approach through the lens of a child life specialist, our hope is to give all families a variety of coping tools and interventions to find what works best for them, both individually and as a family unit.
  • Annual celebration of life: Each September, in tandem with Childhood Cancer Awareness Month, we invite our families who have experienced a loss to join us in remembering, honoring and celebrating their child. This sacred space allows our families to come together as a community- acknowledging lived experiences, validating one another’s feelings, and speaking each child’s name– to see they're not alone.
  • Team butterfly at The Blast: Each spring, the Cook Children’s Health Foundation comes alongside our staff to invite families, friends and the community to walk in support of our patients. This event raises essential funds for pediatric cancer research, treatment and care. Team Butterfly serves as a place for our bereaved families to maintain connection within the Hematology-Oncology community, while also providing a soft-landing spot of comfort and familiarity should you not want to form your own team. The Tribute Walk is a powerful display of signs along the Trinity Trail, recognizing current and former patients. We encourage you to request a sign so our team can honor your Butterfly.
  • Individualized grief support: Whether you need a list of grief support services (i.e., camps, support groups, retreats, counseling, in-person, virtual, etc.) specific to your hometown, someone to process through an issue or concern with you, educational handout materials, grief resources, community education or support, or even just a listening ear when you don’t know where to turn, we're here.

Family Care Coordinator Information

Magellan Taylor-Brickey, MA, CCLS, GC-C, GCCA-C, CLSSGB

Hematology-Oncology Family Care Coordinator

Certified Child Life Specialist; Certified Grief Counselor; Certified Child and Adolescent Grief Counselor

Magellan.Taylor-Brickey@cookchildrens.org 

682-303-1956 phone