A Parent’s Perspective
Below are three parents who have shared their experience with See You at the Summit. Each of these parents, at one time, was in your shoes; some still are. When cancer happens to one person, in varying ripples, it happens to every person who loves them. For parents, when their child is diagnosed, it is a unique and immense journey. The parents we work with often express feeling alone. For those with teenagers, this experience can be even more isolating due to the distinct developmental stage of their child.
Your teenager needs opportunities to connect with peers and build their self-esteem through accomplishments. As hard as it may be, they need to feel a renewed sense of independence, responsibility, and capability because of their own efforts. They need the space to be with other teens and know that their fears, worries, and experiences are normal. That ‘they’ are normal. See You at the Summit only serves teenagers. Our program is built specifically to meet their needs.
Cancer has a way of becoming the center of attention. One of our goals is to help these young people see that their story is so much more than that, and to not let their identity become fixed in being a cancer patient. We hope to send them back to you as version 2.0. More like the teenager you knew but with readiness for what is next in their life. Whether that be more treatment, returning to school, a sport they loved, or turning towards something new like college or a job.
You need time to heal; they need time to heal. We’d like to help with that.
“As C’s mom I cannot put into words…
Physical steps get so much attention from medical staff and well-meaning friends. ‘Your scar looks great!’ ‘Your labs results are good!’
But it’s the unseen lingering scars that can’t be easily seen or measured.”
“See You at the Summit changes lives
Fear. Fear is a word I have come to know very intimately since my son was diagnosed with cancer.
Fear of the future, fear of the present, fear of death, fear of loss and the list goes on and on. One of my biggest fears was the fear of not being in control.”
“COURAGE IS A CONSTANT IN OUR NEW NORMAL.…
Courage was not something our family was feeling… instead fear, despair, and anger were the most common emotions we were experiencing. As parents, we felt we had somehow failed her. We felt we had broken the promise all parents make to their children, which is to always protect them.”
“As both a trip physician and a cancer survivor myself, this experience held a special place in my heart. These remarkable teens taught me that life’s greatest adventures often come after our most challenging battles. In the midst of the wilderness, the burden of treatments seem to fade, replaced by a sense of freedom and possibility. The trip reminded me of the power of community, the magic of the outdoors and the strength that lies within us all. I am grateful to See you at the Summer for making it possible.” ~ M. Garcia