BraveHearts: Support for kids facing a parent’s cancer

BraveHearts is an interactive support website created for children facing a parent’s cancer. Founded by Sabrina Lebedinsky, who lost her own father to glioblastoma when she was twelve, the site was designed to be an “everyday companion” for kids — filling the gap between occasional camp experiences and the daily reality of coping with a parent’s illness. The tone throughout is warm, age-appropriate, and emotionally validating, reassuring children that whatever they feel is okay and that they are not alone.

The site offers a range of tools and content to help kids process their emotions and better understand what’s happening around them:

• Educational content — simple explanations of cancer, chemotherapy, radiation, hair loss, and fatigue to help kids make sense of medical changes at home
• Emotional coping tools — a guided breathing exercise, a feelings check-in, and a “What To Do When You Feel Scared” checklist
• Creative outlets — a private journal, interactive choose-your-own-adventure stories, and light game breaks (memory match, word search, color recall)
• Peer connection — a moderated “Sharing Circle” where kids can send and receive supportive messages
• Social support guidance — scripts and tips for talking to friends about a parent’s illness, both as the child affected and as a friend offering support
• Curated external resources — links to grief support organizations for youth plus a crisis helpline number

Visit BraveHearts