Facing cancer requires a significant process of adaptation throughout all stages of the disease. In childhood cancer, it is natural to experience fear, disbelief, guilt, anxiety, uncertainty and depression, among others. We must learn to control and manage these symptoms and emotions.

This is why the La Nineta dels Ulls Foundation offers families —who are friends of the Foundation— emotional support from the psychologist Rosa María Valls Busca.

Rosa Maria is a clinical psychologist specialised in the treatment of drug addiction and stress management. She has worked at the Red Cross in Barcelona and Rome, developing training activities and therapies aimed at stress management and conflict resolution within the framework of cognitive psychology.

She has personally experienced situations of accompanying oncology patients and has participated in support groups for families with children with various paediatric pathologies.

Areas of emotional support for families:

• Help in the management of emotions in the different phases of the illness, to teach how to detect, accept and face them in order to preserve emotional health as much as possible.
• Make parents aware of the causes of the disease and of the sometimes late detection of retinoblastoma, as well as the creation of an environment of trust that allows the expression of feelings and doubts that will appear after the initial shock.
• Help in the communication of the diagnosis of retinoblastoma to the affected child with age-appropriate strategies while being prepared to answer possible questions.
• Informing and getting the rest of the family members involved, which will ease the acceptance of the changes in the family dynamics that the treatment will entail.
• Support in the involvement and adaptation to the treatment.
• Favouring the normalisation of the family’s life and social integration.
• Learning to cope with periods of uncertainty while waiting for results and possible relapses of the disease.

Contact: info@fundaciolaninetadelsulls.org

The diagnosis of cancer has very important repercussions in the family environment that involve a strong reorganisation and that lead to changes in family routines. Stays in hospital, constant visits and check-ups and trips, often far from their usual place of residence, can end up generating problems in the work environment of the parents of the child affected by the disease. This makes the situation even more complicated.

At La Nineta dels Ulls Foundation we offer legal and employment advise to the families who are friends of the Foundation by the lawyer Elisenda Villares Vilella.

Elisenda has a Bachelor’s degree in Law. Master’s degree in the Practice of Law. Master’s degree in Labour Law and Social Security. And she is specialist in gender-based violence.

Contact: info@fundaciolaninetadelsulls.org

The Fundació La Nineta dels Ulls starts the GAR, a project that aims to establish a meeting point for retinoblastoma patients over 12 years old.

Goals:

• Meeting other teenagers who also suffer from retinoblastoma.
• Sharing experiences and concerns.
• Collect information about their needs to present them to the Foundation.
• Improving their confidence and self-esteem.
• Having fun!

How will you do it?

• Regular virtual meetings.
• One day trips.
• Weekend trips.
• Face-to-face meetings.

Do you want to join the GAR?

Join us:  contacta@fundaciolaninetadelsulls.org

Project coordinator: Andrea, diagnosed with retinoblastoma in 1995.