Bereavement, Living with Cancer Program
"Pediatric Hospice"
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Appropriate for ages 10 to 12 or grades 4 - 6. This program
consists of pre-presentation information, a 45 minute interactive
life-size puppet play and follow-up activities.
Featuring Kenny, his hospice nurse Abbie Lynch, his brother Keith
Montgomery and his classmate Brenda Dubrowski... and Kenny's beloved
dog, Virgil.
Saying Good-bye
Keith is having a bad day. He is remembering his brother and
missing him. Brenda joins Keith and shares his sorrow. They decide to
call Abbie, Kenny's hospice nurse, for help. Abbie talks with the
children about their grief, encourages them in their memories of
Kenny and helps them channel their grief in a positive manner.
Through Abbie, Keith and Brenda learn to talk about grief and
loss.
Little League Blues
When Kenny finds an announcement for try-outs for his baseball
team, he is upset because he knows that his cancer will keep him from
playing this year. When Abbie arrives she finds Kenny spilling his
troubles to his dog, Virgil. Abbie encourages Kenny to discuss his
feelings openly. Together they talk about the possibility of Kenny's
death and find a way to include Kenny in his little league
activities.
Myths About Death
Kenny's classmate, Brenda, has heard Kenny is very ill, and she
really wants to visit her friend. In an effort to make the situation
easier on Kenny and his family and to "protect Brenda from death."
Brenda's parents have made it clear that Brenda should not visit
Kenny. As Brenda approaches the Montgomery house, she encounters
Abbie. Abble helps Brenda understand that Kenny needs and wants to
see his friends, that visitors are not a "bother" and that these
visits help everyone to be more open and honest about death.
Bag It
In "bag It!" Keith Montgomery, Kenny's brother, grapples with his thoughts
and feelings about the changes in the Montgomery's family life. When word of
Kenny's illness spreads among his friends and neighbours, gifts arrive at the
Montgomery home at a furious pace. As Keith delivers these presents to Kenny,
he feels angry at the attention Kenny receives and guilty for feeling that way.
Keith talks with Abbie, Kenny's home hospice nurse, and at her suggestion talks
with his brother. Keith wants to do "regular" family things that are part of
their familiar routine. Kenny suggests they work together sorting laundry, and
together they discuss their feelings about terminal illness and its effects
on each of them.
Post-Presentation
There are a number of follow-up activities that are
included in the package.
After students have participated in the puppet performance
there are a number of activities that can be done with the young people to stimulate
discussion on the topic of bereavement and deepen their understanding of the
problems faced by persons who deal with bereavement.
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