SWFL Family grateful for free counseling services at Golisano Children’s Hospital

Imagine hearing the words “Your child has cancer.” It turns your world upside down. That is why Golisano Children’s Hospital has a full-time psychologist to help every single member of the family.

From the child going through treatment to their parents, and siblings coping with a parent being away and focused on the child who is sick.

WINK News spoke to a family who said it made a world of difference.

Seeing 14-year-old Cali Trepkowski with her mom Carrie, it’s hard to believe you’re looking at the same kid.

Carrie said, “She was diagnosed a week before school started for her third-grade year.”

Doctors told the family two big scary words. “Medulla blastoma, which is a type of brain cancer.”

It meant surgery, chemo, radiation, and a major shift in family dynamics.

“It definitely has an emotional impact on every single member. She does have a younger brother that obviously, he was the baby in the family and roles switched. You had you know, an older sister who had to start helping dad make lunches for school,” said Carrie.

That’s where Pediatric Psychologist Doctor Kim Shimoda comes in. She works with every single family member.

Cali said, “She would play games with me to express my feelings. Like, what fears you have? Or stuff like that.”

She also works with her patients to look for learning gaps.

“Our goal of doing neuropsychological testing is to make sure that kids have the accommodations that they need in school,” said Shimoda.

Patients and families continue to see Dr. Shimoda even after recovery.

For Carrie, that was actually the hardest time. “That’s when my anxiety was through the roof. Because you know, during treatment, we were doing something to keep it away.”

Dr. Shimoda’s advice; focus on successes and how far a child has come, be flexible with schedules and maintain a routine as best you can.

As for Cali, she’s surpassed all expectations and is officially considered cured.

Cali is enrolled in honors classes at Fort Myers High School.

She’s no longer receiving regular counseling because she doesn’t need it, but it’s available to all children being treated for cancer and blood disorders as well as their families at no cost because it’s covered by donations.