The MEND program is designed to support patients and their families in maintaining or regaining emotional health and balance during a significant medical illness or treatment.
Our therapists and clinicians provide a caring, nurturing environment for families during organ transplantation, diabetes and chemotherapy. We also work with those coping with asthma, cystic fibrosis, kidney disease, seizures and other chronic illnesses.
We address fears and worries regarding illness, getting sick again, life expectancy, reaching academic/career goals and possible social limitations.
We talk about adjusting to a life with limitations, depression over missed activities and feelings of guilt. For children, we address sadness over missing school, sports and play time.
We discuss adjusting to bodily changes due to medication side effects and scars from surgery. We also talk about the body image challenges of medical devices and developmental limits.
For children, not being like other kids impacts self-esteem — and illness, medications, diet and physical restrictions can be isolating at any age. We give patients tools to cope with this.
We guide families through the challenges of rebellion and resistance to medical regimens. We also talk about the stress, fears and guilt that parents and loved ones often feel.
Patients and their families are supported as they grieve the loss of a healthy body while accepting new realities for activity and longevity.
This covers the importance of adhering to the patient’s prescribed medication management, diet or physical restrictions and exercise recommendations.
Our research shows that stress impacts more than mental health. It can also have a substantial effect on physical well-being, including heart health and the immune system. The MEND program aims to provide supportive solutions for reducing stress and reversing the damage it can do to patients and families. By addressing the stress of the illness, we promote an environment of healing.
MEND is conducted as an intensive outpatient program. Patients attend 24 sessions over a six- to eight-week period; families are asked to plan for appointments lasting two to three hours. For children in the program, parents and siblings are asked to participate.
