Cancer hospital offers grief therapy for kids

The children learn to cope when a loved one has cancer or has died from it.
COLUMBUS (AP) -- Angela Hummel's children don't have cancer but they are benefiting from a program at the Arthur G. James Cancer Hospital at Ohio State University.
Hummel died of brain cancer in April 2005, leaving Samantha, 11, Shane, 9, and Savannah, 4, to be reared by their grandmother, Charlene Hummel.
The children are among those who attend the Healing Journeys for Children program that helps children deal with grief.
When a loved one becomes seriously ill or dies, children don't easily bounce back and need to learn how to grieve, said Pauline King, program director.
She said children who experience loss might become depressed or sick or fail at school. Older children might regress, wetting their beds again. One 7-year-old-boy tried to be perfect, thinking it would brig his father back.
Have been helped
Charlene Hummel said her grandchildren, who had been angry that their mother left them and were often jumpy, have been helped by the grief therapy.
"I thought it was my fault," said Samantha, who has worked with a therapy dog, a Labrador retriever named Tyco. "Now, I have kind of a sense of relief."
The free program, held weekly at a day-care center, is open to children ages 3 to 18.
"These children are strong. They're survivors," King said. "They go to school. They play. They're superheroes."
The children who join the program are placed in one of two groups. Those who have a family member who's been diagnosed with cancer or is in treatment are placed in the Hand-in-Hand group.
That's where the Hummel children started out two years ago.
They've since moved on to the Good Grief group.
"We teach three things: It's not your fault; you can't catch it; and there will always be someone there to love you and care for you," King said.
Along with pet therapy, the center offers art therapy and other activities.