Beth’s Hope Story
When Beth’s son Kai was diagnosed with acute lymphoblastic leukaemia (ALL), her world turned upside down. In the early weeks of Kai’s treatment, Beth struggled with anxiety, sleepless nights, and poor eating habits, as the shock of the diagnosis consumed her.
The hospital psychiatrist reassured Beth that her response was normal and encouraged her to seek out moments of distraction and joy. Support from friends—through shared photos of beaches and sunsets and her knitting group continuing normal conversations—helped lift some of the burden.
As Kai’s health began to improve, Beth turned her focus to her own wellbeing. She and her husband joined the Hope Programme for Parents of Children with Cancer, which encouraged gentle exercise, goal-setting, and gratitude journaling. Reflecting on her experience, Beth shared:
"The Hope Programme really got me thinking. Ways to manage stress, reframing negative thoughts, communication, and setback plans were really important to me, and I’ve made some really positive changes as a result."
Beth introduced gratitude journaling as a family activity:
"Me and my husband and the kids, we’ve all got our gratitude journals. We sit and do those every night, and it often ends with a lot of laughter."
The programme also provided Beth with a chance to connect with others in similar situations and gain practical tools for navigating the ups and downs of Kai’s treatment. She highlighted the live Q&A sessions with Dr. Bob Phillips as particularly impactful:
"I love the Hope Programme, and I thought the sessions with Doctor Bob were brilliant. They were so informative and helpful."
Even during the most challenging phases of Kai’s treatment, Beth relied on the foundations she had built through the programme. With the support of friends, family, and the techniques she learned, Beth now feels more physically and mentally resilient:
“This has no doubt been the hardest year of our lives, but physically and mentally, we are in a better place now and I’m grateful for the coping techniques we’ve found.”
You can hear more from Beth about her Hope Programme experience this video:
This case study was adapted from Beth’s article published in Contact Magazine by the Children’s Cancer and Leukaemia Group. You can find the full article on their website: A parent's view... learning to look after your own wellbeing during treatment.
Beth completed our online Hope Programme funded by Leeds Cares Charity in partnership with Dr Bob Phillips from University of York.