Your grandchild, niece or nephew has just been diagnosed with a serious illness. Your heart aches for your daughter, son, brother, or sister as you bear witness to this new journey the family is on. And you wonder –  How can I best support them? What is my role? How can I hold my own grief and help them process theirs?

There is no perfect protocol for the role extended family members can play. Mostly it takes an open heart, adaptability to meet the family’s ever-changing needs and a willingness to hear what they need most. Come hear from a panel of extended family members who have navigated the complex, emotional and sometimes bumpy landscape of being an extended family member when a child has been diagnosed with a life changing illness.