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Use the filter above to find the resources you’re looking for. As well as serious illness and grief resources, we have advice around supporting tamariki / children through COVID19. You can also read stories from Kenzie’s Gift clients and understand the life-changing impact our work has. Plus, our latest news, webinars and events can be found here too.
News
Kenzie's Gift collaborates with nim Creative to launch transformative new website
In recent years, "digital transformation" has become a buzzword, and its potential impact on the charity sector is enormous. For Kenzie's Gift, a New Zealand-based charity that supports the mental health of young Kiwis and their families affected by serious illness or grief, the pandemic served as a catalyst for increasing their digital presence.
News
Gráinne Moss conquers the Channel of Bones, kicking off four epic swims to support Kenzie's Gift
Renowned ultra-marathon swimmer and holder of the New Zealand and Irish Triple Crowns, Gráinne Moss has achieved an extraordinary feat by successfully swimming the grueling 42 kilometers between Oʻahu and Molokaʻi islands, famously known as the ‘Channel of Bones’.
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News
HRH The Duke of Cambridge’s letter of support
Back in 2005, Kenzie’s Gift Founder Nic and her daughter Kenzie had the privilege of meeting The Duke of Cambridge in Aoteaora New Zealand when he came to visit the paediatric oncology ward at Starship Children’s Hospital.
News
#DearGrief 2018 summary
With many mātātahi (young people) struggling in the aftermath of a loss, two young tāne who have lost their siblings, Conor Burling and Luka Wolfgram, are championing a #DearGrief campaign to start the conversation about grief.
Webinars
Talking with kids about cancer
Parenting through cancer can be tough. The word 'cancer' tends to evoke feelings of fear and anxiety, and as parents, we often want to protect our tamariki from the tough stuff that happens in life. One way we sometimes do this is by not talking and sharing with them what is happening.
Webinars
Coping with grief at christmas
Christmas is a time of joy. Everywhere we look we’re encouraged to be cheery and bright, to spend up large on presents and food, to entertain, celebrate with family and friends, and spread boundless goodwill. It's a time of year that can be some of the hardest to travel for those grieving the loss of a loved one.
Webinars
Supporting young people through grief
Supporting mātātahi (young people) through grief can be tough as most of us don't know how to talk about grief, let alone how to support a young loved one through it. It’s hard to know what to say or how to behave when someone dies.
Stories
Rebecca's story
Rebecca was just 2 years old when her mum Emma was diagnosed with leukaemia. When she was 7, her mum finally lost her battle with leukaemia. Here 14-year-old Rebecca explains in her own words why she believes Kenzie’s Gift is so vitally important to the lives of children in New Zealand.
Stories
Nesha and Cody's story
Cody was only five years old when his mother, Nesha, faced a health crisis that necessitated a number of stays in the hospital. Seriously ill, Nesha would be there for three to four days at a time, and her children witnessed both the difficulties she was experiencing and the uncertainties of the hōhipere / hospital environment.
Stories
Libby's story
After the loss of her daughter Kiriana, Libby Martin sought support from Kenzie’s Gift for her two grieving children, Eli and Josh.
Stories
Julia and Cilla's story
After the loss of her husband Malcolm to cancer, Julia Black received support from Kenzie’s Gift for her five-year-old daughter Cilla. “Everyone has an opinion about how to give birth to your kids, raise them, and how to best support them during a time of grief and bereavement.
Stories
John's story
John Norman’s wife Becky died of metastatic melanoma on the 20th of November 2014 at the age of 41, just three years after surgery to remove the cancer from her back. Lymph nodes taken at the time showed no evidence of disease and yet when diagnosed with advanced melanoma, the mate pukupuku / cancer had progressed throughout her body.
Stories
Harriet and Renee's story
Kenzie’s Gift helped Harriet Lefau’s daughter Renee cope with the traumatic aftermath of intensive mate pukupuku / cancer treatments. “My daughter’s cancer treatment had created a gap that separated her from the rest of our family."
Stories
Grant and Rebecca's story
"At a time when your life is turned on its end when you have so many doubts, worries, and financial pressures, an organisation comes along and says, "We'll take care of this support and nurturing for your child." How do you express how grateful you are?"
Stories
Gemma and Ashton's story
Gemma talks about how Kenzie's Gift has helped her son Ashton cope with husband Martin's serious illness.
Stories
Emma and Becca's story
Auckland woman Emma was diagnosed with acute promyelocytic leukaemia four years ago. She and her husband and daughter Rebecca were living in Australia and Emma was hospitalised for almost four months as she underwent continued treatments for her cancer. Becca was almost three at the time.
Stories
Carlene and Olivia's story
Carlene says the help she received from Kenzie’s Gift for her daughter Olivia was ‘life changing.’
Serious illness
Your child’s education during serious illness
A serious illness can mean long absences from school – here are some ways to keep up with your child’s education during treatment and how to manage their return.
Serious illness
Talking to children and young people about terminal illness
If you, or someone close to you and your tamariki / children or taitamaiti / child, have mate pukupuku / cancer or other serious illness, that has come back, spread or is terminal, you might be wondering how to talk to your tamariki / taitamaiti about it. Start here.
Serious illness
Support for young people affected by serious illness
When someone in the whānau has a serious illness there can be a lot of changes for everyone. Some of them can be really challenging and difficult to understand. Here are some simple ways to help you cope if someone you love is seriously ill.
Serious illness
Support for parents of seriously ill children
These days may feel like the longest of your life. They may also feel like a waking nightmare, one from which you hope you’ll soon wake up from. Read on for tips to help if you’re caring for a seriously ill child.
Serious illness
Recommended books about serious illness and grief
Books are a great way to help tamariki / children (and yourself) begin to make sense of what they’re experiencing when it comes to serious illness or grief. See what we recommend.
Serious illness
Looking after your relationship when you have a seriously ill child
Life doesn’t stop when your child is seriously ill and you still have other roles to play, including partner. Here are some tips to help you nourish your relationship when you have a seriously ill child.
Serious illness
Guide to childhood cancers
If your child has been diagnosed with cancer, here’s a quick overview of everything you need to know, including a guide to childhood cancers and how they’re treated.
Serious illness
Good mental health for young people affected by serious illness
If someone you love has been diagnosed with a serious illness, your mental health can take a hit. Here are some tips that can help.
Grief
What to say and not say to someone who is grieving
Finding the right words to say to someone who is grieving can be really tricky. That’s why we’ve rounded up a list of things to say and not to say to someone who is grieving. Have a read.
Grief
What is grief
You’ve probably heard the word grief, but what actually is it, how does it make us feel and how can we support ourselves and others, including children, through it? Read on to find out.
Grief
What does grief feel like?
Grief brings with it so many feelings and emotions – learn more about what grief feels like and the mental and physical impacts it can have on our health.
Grief
Tips for coping with grief at Christmas
Christmas can be a really challenging time if you’re grieving. So, we’ve pulled together 12 tips to help you cope with your grief at Christmas time.
Grief
The Unthinkables – our online grief support group
The Unthinkables was set up by Nic Russell, founder and CEO of Kenzie’s Gift. Here Nic explains why she’s the driving force behind the Unthinkables and what it offers bereaved Kiwi parents.
Grief
Supporting children and young people through grief
Based on international statistics, an estimated 1 in 20 tamariki / children will experience a bereavement by the time they’re 16 years old. The impacts of grief are both immediate and life-long. Read on for some tips to help you support children and young people through grief.
Grief
Self-care when you’re grieving
When you’re grieving, sometimes it’s easy to forget about looking after yourself. But remembering to care for yourself when you’re grieving can make a big difference to your wellbeing.
Grief
How to tell children someone has died
It may go against your protective instincts, but tamariki / children need to know that someone has died as soon as possible. Here are some tips to help you have this difficult conversation.
Grief
How to support grieving children back to school
Going back to kura / school after a bereavement can actually offer some normality and security for tamariki / children – here are 10 ways to support your child back to school after a death.
Serious illness
Family life after serious illness or cancer treatment
After your child finishes their serious illness or cancer treatment, you might be wondering what happens next – how do you get back to life as it was before serious illness took hold? Read on.
Serious illness
Caring for a seriously ill child
Taking care of a seriously ill taitamaiti / child is one of the most difficult things mātua / parents and caregivers will ever do. Here are some tips to help.
Serious illness
Bullying during serious illness or grief
If your taitamaiti / child or taiohi / young person experiences bullying while going through serious illness or grief, here are some things you can try.
Grief
How to prepare a child for the death of a parent
Tamariki / children can normally sense when something’s going on around them, especially if it’s something really big, like the death of a parent or caregiver.
Grief
How to prepare a child for someone dying
Preparing tamariki / children or mātātahi / young people for the expected death of a loved one while trying to cope with your own emotions can be one of the toughest things you’ll ever have to do.
Grief
How to prepare a child for a funeral or tangi
As mātua / parents and caregivers, it’s natural to want to protect tamariki / children from some of life’s toughest times. These include funerals and tangi. But attending a funeral or tangi can actually be really helpful for your child’s grief journey.
Grief
How to deal with the grief of losing a child
The grief felt by mātua / parents and caregivers who outlive their tamariki / children has been likened to a hole in the heart that never heals. It’s a deep heartache that lasts a lifetime. Read on for some tips to help you deal with the grief of losing a child.
Grief
How to cope with grief when you can’t be together
When we’re grieving, it’s natural to want the support of our loved ones – but what if, because of distance or other reasons, you can’t be together?
Grief
Grief and mental health
Grief impacts on every part of our lives, including our physical and mental health. Learn more about how to care for your mental health when you’re grieving.
Grief
Dealing with grief for teens
Grief can be overwhelming and isolating, especially for teens. That’s why we’ve pulled together some tips to help grieving teens.
Grief
Coping with special occasions after someone has died
Grief doesn’t have a time limit – feelings of grief can strike at any time. They can be especially powerful on special occasions, like birthdays, anniversaries and more.
Grief
Coping with Mother’s Day after your mum has died
When Mother’s Day comes around, it can be impossible to ignore. It’s in your social media feeds, at your local supermarket and turning up in your inbox, encouraging you to celebrate it.
COVID-19
How to cope with COVID-19 anxiety
COVID-19 remains in our communities and it’s still unsettling, especially for tamariki / children or those of us with health needs. Discover some ways to manage COVID-19 anxiety, especially for tamariki / children and mātātahi / young people.
