Helping kids with cancer stay connected to the world

Isolation. Of the side-effects related to cancer

, it’s one most people don’t consider. And when the patient is a child, it puts their emotional development at stake as well. The consistent medical tests, treatments, and bed-rest can disrupt a school-going schedule for months, making it hard for a child to keep up with studies or friendships. It places undue stress on young patients who have enough to deal with already — during their most formative years, no less.

It’s the mission of HopeCam to respond to this need. The Virginia-based nonprofit organization works to bridge these gaps by enabling young, home-bound cancer patients to attend classes and stay in touch with friends. HopeCam’s tools: tablet computers, high speed internet connections, webcams, and Skype.

HopeCam provides equipment and IT support to the patient’s home and to the school. They not only give the student a tablet computer complete with webcam and internet access, they work with the school to establish a clear online channel with the student’s classroom. Using Skype, the student can join classroom activities, keep up with their studies, and stay in touch with friends.

Perhaps most important, it can actually help with the child’s physical recovery. In this article on HopeCam’s website, a pediatric oncology social worker explained that a strong social support network is an imperative part of managing illness. Consistent contact with friends and classmates can help a housebound child combat depression, anxiety, and low self-esteem.

While we hope a cure for pediatric cancer can be found in our lifetime, we are hopeful about—and genuinely flattered by – HopeCam’s use of Skype in combating this symptom.

For more on HopeCam’s efforts to keep children with cancer in touch with their school and social lives...