When 15-year-old Gabby Kim started journaling, it was out of necessity. The previous four years were difficult for the Kim family: Gabby’s mother, father, and grandfather had all been diagnosed with various types of cancer and were receiving treatment at City of Hope’s Orange County and Duarte campuses. Any cancer diagnosis can be tough to navigate – but trying to process three diagnoses, multiple surgeries, and some treatment complications only increased the challenge.
“It's just been back-to-back to back, like one thing after another,” said Carolyn Kim, Gabby’s mother. Carolyn explained that the timing of their diagnoses was hard for both of her teenage daughters. Her oldest daughter was graduating from high school, and Gabby was about to start her freshman year.
The Kim family appreciated the wide range of supportive care resources City of Hope offers for families and caregivers. However, Gabby didn’t feel as compelled to share her feelings in front of others. She had emotions she wanted to express but was searching for a route that made sense for her. That’s when she opened her notebook – and with it, a resource to help others.
“I just grabbed a journal I hadn’t touched in a while and thought it could be a great outlet for me to express myself,” Gabby said. “Then, I realized that if I could create a journal for other teens who are going through the same experiences, it could be beneficial for them.”
Finding the words
While many journals and workbooks exist to help children navigate a cancer diagnosis, Gabby felt there was a gap in resources for teenagers. As she continued freewriting in her journal, she began categorizing her entries into possible prompts. From there, she penned the digital book titled, “My Brave Journey: A Journal for Teens Whose Parents Have Cancer.”
The helpful prompts include:
- “What were your immediate thoughts and feelings when you found out your parent had cancer?”
- “What are you doing to look after your physical, emotional, and mental well-being?”
- “What do you wish others understood about what you’re going through?”
The last question, in particular, really spoke to Gabby. She had just transferred to a new high school when her mother was diagnosed with breast cancer, and she didn’t feel like she had an immediate community.
“Being in that new environment, it was hard to open up to others,” Gabby said. “But I was able to explain all of that in my writing.”
Gabby includes lined pages after each prompt for writers to use. She also has helpful tips after each prompt and a space to log the date. While her intended audience is teens, Gabby hopes the journal can help kids of all ages. Her journal also includes coloring pages and inspiration quotes, such as, “You’re not alone.”
Turning a new page
Through their treatment at City of Hope, Carolyn and her husband’s cancers are in remission. For them, City of Hope gave them peace of mind in their care, especially when the Irvine campus opened up closer to their home.
“Every single physician we've encountered at City of Hope has been so amazing,” Carolyn said. “The continuity of care, with everything in one system, makes communication and treatment so coordinated and seamless.”
Carolyn said she didn’t find out about Gabby’s journaling until further into their journey. She was floored by her daughter’s idea of creating a journal for others.
“I was so touched, proud, and emotional. It made me think back to how difficult of a time she must have had, but she powered through with strength and courage,” Carolyn said. “It’s been a challenging journey that our entire family has survived. I’m just very grateful that she's taking this on to help others.”
Gabby hopes her journal will give others a safe outlet to share their feelings. “One key piece of advice I’d give to kids my age is not being afraid to open up – to your trusted peers, friends and family members,” Gabby said. “Or try exploring different outlets to express yourselves instead of keeping it inside.”
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