Peyton Brock: CLIMB® Graduate

When I met 6-year-old Peyton Brock at her house, she was scrunched up next to her mom, Kendra. But it didn’t take long for her to tell me about her kindergarten graduation coming up the next day and a birthday trip to the Oklahoma Aquarium. Peyton is a cheerful kid who loves playing with her family, but she also has had to face a difficult reality at a young age – her mom’s breast cancer diagnosis. While Kendra’s surgery was successful, she still faces several months of radiation and chemotherapy. The entire family is impacted by the emotional and physical toll of a cancer diagnosis and treatment. When Kendra saw information posted about The CLIMB® Support Group at the Saint Francis Cancer Center, she involved her family.

CLIMB® is an emotional support program for children and teens, ages 6-18, whose parents are diagnosed with cancer. Sessions are held at Saint Francis, but it is open to those at other cancer centers. Peyton is a recent graduate of the six-week CLIMB® program.

TK: How did you feel when you found out your mom had cancer?

Peyton: I felt scared that they didn’t get all of it.

Kendra says there’s no evidence of the disease, but she will continue treatment, followed by immunotherapy. She and her husband didn’t keep the cancer diagnosis from their children, Peyton, her younger sister and older stepbrother. To participate in CLIMB®, the children must already have been told about the cancer diagnosis.

TK: Tell me about going to the CLIMB® classes.

Peyton: When we first get there, we sit and wait until they’re ready. Sometimes we eat dinner. After dinner, we go to our classes. (There are separate classes for each age group, so information can be delivered in developmentally appropriate ways. Parents go to classes with a different speaker each session, which includes talking to kids about cancer.) In my group, we learned how my mom got cancer.

TK: How do you feel when you go to the class?

Peyton: We talk about five emotions: fear, anxiety, happiness, sadness and anger. It makes me feel better to know that I didn’t give her the cancer. (Sometimes children feel responsible for their parent’s cancer.)

TK: What other things did you learn?

Peyton: There’s a long tube that goes around her and goes to a port. I learned about chemo and radiation. We got to go discover the whole, entire cancer center on a tour. There’s a big machine that shoots a laser. Sometimes they have to put wax on a person to line up the laser. We got to play on one of the chairs where my mom gets her chemo. We went to the doctors’ offices. That helped me feel better to know where my mom is.

TK: Do you do things to help your mom?

Peyton: One time I was scared because I thought my mom was sleepwalking, and I had to tell my dad. She was just very tired. I massage her feet. (The treatments give Kendra neuropathy, and she says Peyton has the best touch for massaging.)

TK: What else would you like to tell me about CLIMB® classes?

Peyton: I made some friends. One is Jonah. After I met Jonah and he told me his dad had cancer, I felt less alone. I knew there were other families that had cancer, and it made me feel less alone.

TK: What do you like to do for fun?

Peyton: I like to play with my family. I like to go to the park and the pool.

TK: Can you share a fun fact about yourself?

Peyton: I’m very flexible. (At this point, Peyton showed me how she can bend her arms and legs!)

For upcoming dates and information about the CLIMB^® program, please contact Margie Taylor, LMSW at 918.556.7012.