CKF North York Blog - Pediatric Cancer and the Holiday Season

Mackenzie Law | December 23, 2021

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What comes to mind when you think about the holiday season? For me, this time of year is about the decade-old family traditions and the new traditions with friends. It’s a season of laughing around the fireplace, baking sugar cookies, skating on homemade rinks, eating delicious meals, and debating about which Home Alone is the best (Home Alone 1, by the way). With a pandemic and multiple lockdowns, though, my past two winter breaks have been a lot different. It’s made me realize just how much I take for granted and has also made me cherish every moment.

The holiday season has always been complex for pediatric cancer patients and their families. This season is a great provider of comfort and joy for pediatric cancer patients. This is especially important because families with pediatric cancer patients have a renewed appreciation for every moment. As much as the holiday season is a joyous time, though, it can simultaneously be scary and overwhelming.

Many families with pediatric cancer patients feel the pressure to consistently be happy during the holiday season and they often end up feeling out of sync from the rest of the world. This disconnect between the sad feelings and the “holiday cheer” can often leave families feeling that this isn’t how the holiday was “meant to be”.

The holidays are already chaotic and can create a ton of stress for non-cancer patients. We clean the house, we have houseguests, we travel… It's already a lot. Imagine combining all of what you typically do during the month of December with everything that comes with diagnoses and treatment.

Families with pediatric patients also experience stress as the end of the year is often a time to look forward into the new year. These families likely have no idea what the outcome of treatment will entail, so thinking about the year to come can be scary. The season can prompt a wide range of questions like: How do I take care of the holidays and myself/my loved one at the same time? How can I celebrate when I have so many other things on my mind? What will my life be like next year?

Although maintaining normalcy is crucial for children with cancer, it’s also important to let them know that it’s okay if they ever aren’t up for an activity or need a break. The holidays should be a time of love and happiness, but also of open dialogue and communication. Sharing concerns and fears within your family can help you feel significantly more connected.

Clearly, the holiday season can be particularly challenging for families of pediatric cancer patients. That’s why our chapter of Cancer Kids First just had a toy drive for children in the pediatric cancer wing at Sickkids. Thank you to everyone who donated! You made a child’s holiday season better. And keep an eye on our instagram for information an upcoming CKF game night fundraiser. Happy Holidays!