No one understands the weight of a childhood cancer diagnosis like a parent who has carried it themselves. CCO’s Parents Supporting Parents (PSP) programme connects families of newly diagnosed children with a compassionate network of mentors—parents who have walked this path before. Whether your child is facing a cancer or a blood disorder, our veteran parents are here to offer the guidance, understanding, and hope that only lived experience can provide.

What is the Parent Supporting Parent (PSP) Programme?

When a child is diagnosed with cancer or a blood disorder, the road ahead can feel impossible to navigate. The Parent Supporting Parent (PSP) programme is built on a simple, powerful truth:

No one understands the journey better than someone who has already walked it.

Mentorship Rooted in Experience

Our PSP programme consists of a dedicated group of "Veteran Parents"—individuals who have experienced the complexities of pediatric cancer or blood disorders firsthand.

  • Specialized Training: These parents are carefully selected and professionally trained by the CCO Psychosocial Team to provide high-quality volunteer support.

  • The Power of Listening: Their primary role is to provide a compassionate ear. They offer the kind of emotional stability that only comes from lived experience, helping new families navigate the shock, stress, and day-to-day challenges of diagnosis and treatment.

Compassion in the Face of Loss

The journey of a Young Warrior does not always have the outcome we hope for. For families facing the unimaginable, CCO facilitates a safe space for bereaved parents to connect.

  • Shared Understanding: We offer parents the opportunity to gather and support one another, bridging the gap between isolation and community.

  • A Legacy of Comfort: The unique compassion of a parent who has faced the loss of a child provides a singular, profound comfort to those who are recently bereaved, ensuring they do not have to carry their grief alone.

My daughter complaint of her feet, I later noticed the lymph nodes on her stomach, she lost a lot of weight and had no appetite. We took her to several doctors who could not understand what was the problem. Doctors then suspected that she has TB after her body was swollen. She went through TB treatment, she became worse, the treatment was stopped, more tests were done. She was later referred to Bloemfontein for bone marrow biopsy. The biopsy revealed that she has cancer. She was diagnosed with Hodgkin's Lymphoma. Polo went through chemotherapy and radiation treatment. I thank God and the doctors for helping my daughter survive cancer, we are still on the journey but we now have hope.

My son was diagnosed with a rare bone cancer (Ewing sarcoma). He used to play soccer and enjoyed running. One day he came home complaining of his feet being painful. We thought it was because of him exercising a lot. The following day he couldn't walk, he was complaining of fatigue. We took him to the clinic, we were referred to the hospital. Tests and scans were done, which showed a tumor near his spinal cord. We were rushed to Bloemfontein, doctors applied for more tests. Indeed my son had cancer. Surgery was done to remove that tumor. My son could not walk, but I was told that with time he will. He went through chemotherapy. On his last appointment, we were just visiting home for few days, when he had complications and we rushed him to the hospital, unfortunately he did not make it. I lost my baby to bone cancer at the age of 10 years.

Katleho Befolo was diagnosed with leukemia. He complained of his whole body being painful. We thought he was having flu because his fever was so high. We were then surprised when his joints started to be painful. We took him to the hospital, and it was said that he has infection and he was given antibiotics. To our surprise when he was not on antibiotics he became worse. We were referred to Bloemfontein for bone marrow biopsy, the results showed that he has leukemia. We had to stay in the hospital for sometime for his chemotherapy treatment. He is doing well, he is now back to school.

At CCO, we are committed to nurturing the hope and well-being of Lesotho’s Young Warriors. We are honored to be a part of their path to recovery. Stay connected with us for vital early detection tips, survivor stories, and updates on how we are bringing hope, one child at a time.

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