“By empowering families with support, hope and a welcoming community while they are away from home, we can provide strength in their fight against cancer.”
-Elise and Justin Herman
A child’s diagnosis with cancer affects the whole family. Life can no longer go on as usual. The emerging new reality for these families is surgeries, countless medical procedures, radiation and chemotherapy, often requiring months away from the comforts of home and creating an unbearable financial strain.
The Foundation’s Mission is to create a home away from home for these children receiving treatment for pediatric cancer. We provide dedicated housing and support services designed to meet the specific needs of these children and their families.
Over the past six years, the foundation and its “pit crew” – a team of dedicated volunteers – have made 6 apartments available to families of children being treated for cancer at Duke and UNC hospitals. In the past two years, 37 families have made these apartments their home.
Children enduring long outpatient treatment programs have dramatically different housing requirements due to depleted immune systems, irregular sleep schedules and debilitating symptoms. Each Super ReCOOPERation House will provide apartment-style housing that includes the following pediatric cancer–focused amenities:
- At least one single private sleep area per unit and a private kitchen
- Disinfected private playroom and toys
- In-unit washer and dryer
- Assistance with food and transportation
- A pediatric cancer resource center
- A family support network