When your Child is Diagnosed with Leukemia: Wisdom from a Cancer Parent (260)- Laura's Story

When Laura's daughter was diagnosed with leukemia, her world stopped. What followed was a powerful journey through fear, resilience, and fierce advocacy. In this episode, Laura DeKraker Lang-Ree—a lifelong educator and now author of The Cancer Parent’s Handbook—opens up about the most terrifying day of her life, how she transformed pain into purpose, and why parent-to-parent support is critical in the childhood cancer community. Her reflections are raw, heartfelt, and offer wisdom for every parent facing a medical diagnosis with their child. 

🗝️ 5 Key Topics in This Episode:

• Diagnosis day & emotional impact
  
  

• Finding empowerment through peer support
  
  

• Practical coping strategies for parents
  
  

• Giving kids agency during treatment
  
  

• Long-term reflection, gratitude & growth
  
  

⏱️ Timestamps with Details:

00:00] Introduction to Child Life On Call + meeting Laura
Katie welcomes listeners and introduces Laura, an educator and mother of three, who shares her personal journey through her daughter’s cancer diagnosis.

[02:00] Life before diagnosis and early warning signs
Laura describes her daughter Cecilia’s vibrant personality and the subtle symptoms—like fatigue and pallor—that signaled something was wrong.

[04:30] Diagnosis day: from classroom to clinic
Laura recounts the moment she received the devastating call while teaching choir class and the whirlwind that followed as her daughter was diagnosed with leukemia.

[06:30] The emotional toll and the beginning of advocacy
Facing fear and uncertainty, Laura begins to advocate for her daughter’s care while navigating the shock and grief that comes with diagnosis.

[07:45] Camp experience and the danger of living “in cancer”
Laura reflects on a pivotal moment at a childhood cancer camp where she recognized the importance of not letting cancer define her family’s entire future.

[09:00] Collaborating with doctors + writing the handbook
Inspired by the gaps in communication, Laura begins collaborating with her care team and eventually writes The Cancer Parent’s Handbook to empower other families.

[11:45] The moment she knew she had to advocate fiercely
After a doctor’s offhand comment about potential cognitive decline, Laura took matters into her own hands and became a determined voice for her daughter’s future.

[14:00] Giving children power during treatment
Laura explains how offering simple choices helped her daughter feel more in control and less fearful during difficult medical procedures.

[16:30] Coping skills and caring for the caregiver
She shares the importance of self-care, setting boundaries, and creating a support system to survive the marathon of long-term treatment.

[21:00] Practical ways to normalize medical trauma
Through routines, honest conversations, and using Child Life services, Laura found ways to help her daughter feel safe and empowered during medical care.

[26:00] Empowerment through routine and consistency
By incorporating rituals like bike rides and post-procedure treats, Laura created a sense of predictability that helped her daughter manage weekly treatments.

[28:00] The unexpected gifts of reflection and gratitude
Laura opens up about how practices like gratitude journaling helped her find peace and moments of beauty during even the darkest days.

[30:00] About The Cancer Parent’s Handbook + where to get it
Laura shares her motivation for writing the book and how it’s now available for parents everywhere seeking guidance through their own childhood cancer journey.

 

📚 Resources from Laura:

• 📖 The Cancer Parent’s Handbook Website
  
  

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