Talking about cancer is difficult for everyone, and for children it can be particularly challenging. Join a panel of professionals including a family therapist, oncology social worker, parent with cancer, and grown child of a parent with cancer who will share their insights, suggestions, and answers to your questions. Supervised play for kids during the talk and a light lunch to follow.

Presenters: 

Jennifer Yessa-Kast, MSSW. LCSW is a licensed clinical social worker in private practice at Pathway Clinic in Prairie du Sac, WI since 1998.  Jennifer is also a group facilitator for Gilda’s Club of Madison. Jennifer has lived in the area since attending college in Madison. Jennifer lost her husband to leukemia in 2007 when her children were 6 and 3 years old. She has considerable insight into the challenges of raising children alone while managing her children’s grief as well as her own. This experience has drawn Jennifer to helping other children and families facing a cancer diagnosis and/or the loss of a loved one. Jennifer is presently compiling information for a “Toolkit for Young Widow/Widowers with School Age Children or Younger” for her church.

Jerry Sergent, parent and cancer survivor, will share his insights: "I was diagnosed with stage 4 Sarcoma in September of 2009. I have two teenage sons. It has been a long and sometimes very challenging journey for all of us, especially when you consider the difficult conversations that we have had at home. I am happy to share our experiences and how we have have managed such a difficult life changing event. "

Chris Lueck is a former member and current volunteer at Gilda's Club.  He’s been with Gilda’s for over three years and currently assists with community calendars and public speaking. Chris became involved with Gilda's Club shortly before his father passed away from Cancer in March 2012. He graduated in 2011 from the University of Wisconsin Eau Claire with a B.A in Psychology and moved to Madison shortly after. Most recently he was appointed Team Lead in the Service Department at Johnson Health Tech in Cottage Grove.