This program is being offered virtually through Zoom. In order to participate and receive the Zoom link, register by clicking the RSVP button above or by emailing programs@smithcenter.org.
You will receive the Zoom information no later than the morning of your program.
with Lauren Sauer & Tracy Stefak
offered in partnership with:
Healing Circles for Parents with Cancer is a peer led virtual support group for parents who are newly diagnosed, in active treatment or in survivorship who experiencing challenges with their role as a parent during their cancer journey. As this is a peer led support group the co-facilitators can best support parents who have children from 0-18 years old.
This group is not about giving advice (although facilitators will share resources after group and encourage this type of sharing outside of group). Instead it is about sharing our stories (the heart ache that comes from parenting with cancer) without judgment and listening with love. There will also be periodic in-person playdates for parents, partners and their kids in the DMV.
What is a Healing Circle?
Healing Circles bring together small numbers of people impacted by a condition or circumstance to share experiences and harvest collective wisdom. Healing Circles is a peer-led process by which people support each other through deep listening and shared learning. When working at its best, this collaborative conversation model leads to authentic and deep connectivity and can create wisdom and healing for participants.
Beginning in March 2024, the Healing Circle for Parents with Cancer meets Monthly on the 4th Tuesday of each month from 12:00-1:00pm ET.
About Lauren Sauer
Lauren Sauer is a two-time osteosarcoma cancer survivor first diagnosed in 2017 when her daughter was 22 months old, and diagnosed with a recurrence in 2022 when her daughter was 6 years old. Her daughter will be 8 in September. Lauren finished active treatment in September 2022. It took Lauren a long time after her active cancer treatment 2017-2018 to know that she was enough for her daughter during treatment and accept that her village parented her child during that time period. She says that she looks forward to the opportunity to accompany others on their journey as they deal with parent guilt and parent grief. She also looks forward to the opportunity to use Circles principles (creating safe spaces for people to share and be heard) to help facilitate this group. She looks forward to walking with you in your cancer journey.
About Tracy Stefak
Tracy Steffek was diagnosed with breast cancer in November 2021 at four-months postpartum. Immediately after she completed treatment, she was subsequently diagnosed with a secondary cancer of the tongue in October 2023. Tracy completed three life altering surgeries and active head and neck cancer treatment in March 2023. Her experience with two different cancers back-to-back was eye opening because the support and resources varied greatly. Today, she is an advocate for stronger community-health systems coordination and transformation. Originally from New Jersey, Tracy currently lives with her husband, two daughters, grandmother, and two dogs in Virginia. She works full-time and serves on multiple boards and advisory committees, including Bright Spot Network’s Parent Advisory Board. She recognizes that healing from the emotional and medical trauma of cancer will be a lifelong journey, and as a co-facilitator, she looks forward to creating an authentic, non-judgemental space to cultivate shared connection.
