Helping Heidi with her mother’s cancer diagnosis

When Shona Hegarty was diagnosed with triple-negative breast cancer at the age of 40, her biggest concern was for her five-year-old daughter.

Shona explained: “As an only child, Heidi was used to having our full attention, and suddenly there was so much uncertainty around us. Hospital appointments, doctors, medication, the possibility of hair loss and the prospect of an operation were all things we needed to explain to her.

“We read our daughter a book to help her understand what was happening, what might happen in the future and what this could mean for our family. 

“However, after around six weeks, we realised that she hadn’t asked any questions or really acknowledged that I was going to hospital every week. Instead, she started acting out more, becoming aggressive and having much bigger tantrums.

“We reached out to The Orange Foundation for support, and our daughter began play therapy with Diane Smith over the summer. 

“We noticed a positive change in her behaviour very quickly. She became easier to calm down, was less reactive and seemed better able to manage her emotions.

“One of the most heartwarming changes was that she began talking to both me and her daddy about my upcoming operation, even referring to it as me going to have my “bug” out. 

“It was lovely to see her beginning to express her thoughts and feelings about what was happening, in her own way.

“Play therapy has been such a positive experience for our daughter and for us as a family. It has helped her process a difficult and confusing time in a way that feels safe and natural to her. It has also helped us as parents to be more patient, understanding and mindful of what she might be feeling beneath the surface.

“Going through cancer treatment is challenging enough, but trying to navigate it while supporting a young child through such a big change can feel overwhelming. 

“We are so grateful to Diane and The Orange Foundation for giving our daughter the support she needed and helping us find ways to support her, too.

“Seeing our daughter become more settled, more able to express herself and better equipped to manage her emotions has made such a difference to our family. We would wholeheartedly recommend Play Therapy.”