health & wellness

'My Mom Has Cancer'

Karmanos art program helps the young children of cancer patients.

Elizabeth A. Katz
Special to the Jewish News

K

nowing that a loved one has been
diagnosed with cancer can be an
emotional roller coaster for family
members.
But when it's a child who must cope with
the uncertainty of a parent's diagnosis, they
often need a creative outlet and a health
care professional who can help them chan-
nel their emotions.
Benjamin Harvey, 10, of West Bloomfield,
knows about growing up with a mother
who lives with cancer. Mom Amy Harvey,
42, was diagnosed with stage IIIc ovarian
cancer when she was 36.
Benjamin comes to see Wendy Levine,
art therapist and counselor with the Friends
Like Me program at the Barbara Ann
Karmanos Cancer Center's Weisberg Cancer
Treatment Center in Farmington Hills. He
does activities like drawing, jewelry making
for his mom and coloring with pencils.
"Sometimes I talk about my mom:' he
said. "It's very scary because she's had can-
cer since I was 4.
"With Wendy, I can express all my feel-
ings to someone who knows what I'm going Karmanos art therapist Wendy Levine helps Benjamin Harvey, 10, sort out his feelings about his mother's cancer.
through"
Friends Like Me combines art therapy
lives when they're doing art:'
and counseling for children ages 5-18
Levine said she's found it especially
gratifying working with Benjamin, who
who have a family member with cancer.
The program is free thanks to support
enjoys collaborating with her on various art
from the Shelley Littman
projects.
Endowment Fund for
"I love working with
Children and is open to all
Benjamin," she said. "He's
children, not just those with
always thinking of other
Multidisciplinary Team leader at
loved ones being treated at
people and he's always
and throwing around a ball:'
Karmanos.
trying to do right by his
Karmanos, said that for now, there are no
Amy also mentioned that those who
mom:'
Levine, who recently
new cancer tumors. She tries not to look at work at the Weisberg Cancer Treatment
graduated from Wayne
survival statistics and says that her family
Center help her as well.
State University with a mas-
Mom's Perspective
and maintaining a good sense of humor
"When you're dealing with cancer,
Mom Amy Harvey says
ter's degree in counseling
help her to live with a chronic disease. She
it's scary walking in here she said.
Benjamin benefits from
and art therapy, says art is
also finds help at Karmanos' monthly sup-
"Everybody is so nice and so friendly:'
a way for children to work
the art therapy classes and port group for young women with cancer
For more information about the Friends
through the myriad emo-
has become more accus-
or a history of cancer.
Like Me program or to make a donation to
tions that come with having
tomed to her diagnosis
"My mom, who has beat breast cancer
the Shelley Littman Endowment Fund for
and treatment regimen,
a loved one with cancer.
three times, told me you have five minutes
Children, which supports Friends Like Me,
"There's so much chaos
considering that she has
a day to feel sorry for yourself and then
contact Kathleen Hardy, LMSW, at (248)
and stress when your
had a chronic cancer for
you move on" she said. "Humor really
538-4712 or at hardyk@karmanos.org.
Mom Amy Harvey is being
parent is diagnosed with
six
years
and
is
currently
helps
me
put
things
in
perspective.
I've
Donations also are accepted at www.
treated for ovarian cancer.
karmanos.org/ShelleyLittman. For more
cancer:' said Levine. "The
in treatment.
been dealt a tough hand, but I've survived
children I work with are so smart and so
"My husband, Peter, and I are always
for six years. It is what it is. I'm here to
information about Karmanos Cancer
upfront with him about my cancer" Amy
creative, they don't need much direction.
talk about it.
Institute, contact 1-800-KARMANOS
"Peter is my rock and Benjamin is my
"I've always thought there's a lovely mar-
said. "He's done better with it than the last
(1-800-527-6266) or visit karmanos.org .
riage between art and science and using
time. He comes in every other week to see
pebble. He always asks, 'Can I help?"'
Wendy. I think the art therapy helps him:'
Said Benjamin, "Though Mom has che-
Elizabeth A. Katz is the external marketing and
creativity to understand what's going on
communications manager at the Detroit-based
inside a person. I'm blown away with how
Amy, who is being treated by Robert
motherapy, she can do a lot of great stuff,
like playing outside, playing board games
Barbara Ann Karmanos Cancer Institute.
people are able to share things about their
Morris, M.D., Gynecologic Oncology

Karmanos' Friends Like Me program combines
art therapy and counseling for kids age 5 and up.

❑

32

June 25 • 2015