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We are thrilled to announce that on April 2nd, 2007, the Tyler Foundation Counseling and Support Program was inaugurated at the National Center for Child Health and Development in Setagaya, Tokyo. Ms. Satomi Funaki, a clinical psychologist, is working bedside with patients and their mothers and families, offering support and directed play with children. Even though this program is quite new, many moms on the ward have said how grateful they are that there is finally someone to talk to in a relaxed and natural way. This is truly ground-breaking in Japan!
The program is being overseen by Dr. Saiki-Craighill, an expert in Japan in the area of support for mothers of children with cancer. Dr. Saiki-Craighill will monitor and evaluate the success of this program, with the ultimate goal of offering these incredibly necessary services in pediatric wards throughout Japan!
Message from Satomi Funaki
Click here to read Satomi’s May newsletter report.
Click here to read Satomi’s message to Tyler.
Hello! The Tyler Foundation is now celebrating the 2nd year of its Shine On! Counseling and Support Program at the National Center for Child Health and Development. The purpose of this program is to make the children’s lives happy while they’re in hospital and also to support their families. Sometimes a child is diagnosed with something simple like a cold, but then the hospital requests further tests “just to be sure”. This can make a child very anxious because of the unfamiliar surroundings and people as well as the child’s lack of understanding about what is going on.
Parents are of course overwhelmed when they’re given the shocking news that their child may be suffering from a serious illness. This is a very upsetting time for not only the children, but also the doctors, nurses and the medical staff at the hospital as they try their best to ease the family’s worries and concerns.
The Shine On! Program has been introduced to support these families and children while they’re in hospital undergoing cancer treatment.
At present, the Shine On! Program offers:
1. Counseling program
2. Mother’s activity group
3. Children’s play
1. Counseling program
From the moment a child is hospitalized, the pediatric oncology medical team and I advise and consult the parents and child on the various treatment options available to them. I provide individual consultations to discuss any issues or concerns the child or family has. I am available daily and visit each child’s bed on the cancer ward to ask how the family is. Not only do I get to know the sick child and parents, but I’m also available to speak with a patient’s siblings and offer help and counseling.
2. Mother’s activity
Every Wednesday from 2-3pm, the children’s mothers make seasonal decorations. Sometimes they make origami - last Christmas, they made a cardboard tree decorated with origami.
The tree looked spectacular and the children were very happy to see this. They have also made rice cakes and Kadomatsu from origami and these were placed at the nurse station. Everyone on the ward enjoyed looking at these lovingly-made decorations. These activities are an opportunity for the mothers to get to know each other, exchange experiences and talk about their joys, fears and concerns.
Furthermore, at the mothers’ request, I’ve organized a mom’s study group to support the mothers in the goal of learning as much as possible about childhood cancer. In addition to the Tyler Foundation providing funds for books and study materials, the TF has purchased a laptop that any parent on the ward can use.
3. Children’s play
There is a play room where children can play and meet other kids on the ward.. Sometimes a child is too sick to leave their room and hospital staff can spend some time with them to enjoy coloring and reading activities. The Tyler Foundation provides these coloring books and materials. For example, for 2 to 3 year-olds, 
they can enjoy reading with their mother and we have available “Kingyo ga Nigeta”. For children aged 4 to 5 year-old, they can enjoy making and coloring pictures on a big sheet adding their own designs and versions of their favorite cartoon characters. Sometimes they draw pictures of their family.
Our Shine On! Program is growing bigger and bigger and is expanding the activities for the children and their mothers. Now I also visit children receiving cancer treatment as outpatients at the hospital. The doctors and medical staff are praising these programs for the benefits they deliver to children and their caregivers. The Tyler Foundation would like to see the Shine on! smile scontinue on the faces of the children and their families.
Message from Dr. Shigeko Saiki-Craighill
No parents will be spared the anger and shock when they are informed that their child is diagnosed with cancer. Most will ask “why my child?” Moreover, the difference between a normal life and life at the cancer ward can make the parents feel lost. From her personal experience at the National Center for Child Health and Development, Kim knows first-hand that these families with kids undergoing cancer treatment need some mental support. Although help may be available if one calls a support line or travels some distance, what is really necessary is the “close-knit” support structure on-site at the hospital. Hence, the birth of the Tyler Foundation Counseling and Support Project – making counselors available to those in need.
From my past research, I recognize that kids fighting cancer are like people running a long race. The road is undulating and there are many obstacles along the way. It can take a toll on the will at times as the goals seem far in the distance and unclear. Indeed, it is a long and hard race. However, with support, many children are able to continue the race. I think the parents’ role is to encourage their children to continue the race but it is not an easy task. First, one needs to recover from the shock, adopt a positive attitude and focus on taking care of the sick child. Naturally, these parents will research and absorb as much knowledge as they can, try to alleviate the child’s discomfort and begin to build a relationship with the medical team. Additionally, these parents will need to consider the well being of the other siblings. It is often the case that the more one tries to remain calm and brave, the more one becomes weaker. It is natural that one will question the next steps and want to discuss this with someone. By talking to a counselor and getting everything “off their chest,” it will allow these parents to become more balanced and able to be with their kids again. Talking with the counselor is free of charge and privacy will be treated with the strictest confidence. Let us know how we can help make this difficult race a little easier.
Research Papers:
(Please click the images to view the summary of the research paper. If you would like to view the complete paper, or if you would like to see more of her published research, please contact us.)
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