Photo: Julian Konrad
Text: Laeticia Reiner
When a child is diagnosed with cancer, the world comes to a standstill. For the family, medical care naturally becomes the top priority. Less visible, however, is the immense organisational, time-related, and financial pressure that shapes everyday life for months or even years. The CCF Children Cancer Foundation supports families in exactly these situations — specifically where the existing system reaches its limits. We spoke with Fabienne Lemaire, Head of Marketing, Communications & Fundraising at CCF, about the everyday lives of affected families and the silent burdens they face.
What changes in a family's life when a child is diagnosed with cancer?
The whole world is shaken. In the beginning, the fear for the child dominates everything, and parents try to stay strong. It very quickly becomes clear that this is not a brief emergency, but a long journey.
Daily life has to be completely reorganised. Parents spend many hours in the hospital, often cannot work as much, and still need to be present for their other children. This added burden creates enormous pressure — in terms of time, organisation, and finances.
Many people think of childhood cancer as an acute emergeny. How do families experience the time that follows?
Many assume that things calm down after the initial shock. For most families, the opposite is true. The illness stays with them for a long time: through intensive therapies, surgeries, follow-up care, and recurring uncertainties.
Even when the medical situation stabilises, everyday life remains demanding. A “normal” routine often does not return for a long time. The burden remains — it simply changes its form.
Where does CCF provide support — and where does it deliberately not intervene?
We support families upon request, usually via social services such as hospitals or cancer organisations. Social workers know the families’ situations very well and can accurately assess where support is needed.
Our focus is on relieving families who, because of their child’s illness, face acute financial or organisational strain. We cover deductibles, additional costs, transport and accommodation expenses, and lost income when parents are unable to work regularly or at all.
We deliberately do not provide medical or psycho-oncological care. Clinics and specialised institutions are responsible for that. Social workers are best placed to assess which families need support and to what extent. Since we do not have medical or psychosocial expertise ourselves, we rely on the professional assessments of these experts. Our help is usually limited to financial support for affected families.
Why is this non-medical support so crucial for many families?
When a parent has to reduce their working hours or constantly shuttle between hospital, home, and caring for siblings, enormous pressure arises — including financial pressure. Our financial assistance relieves families so they can devote their energy to where it is needed most: their child.
A central part of our support is income replacement. Hardly any other institution offers this. Not every employer can afford to continue paying salaries when parents cannot work regularly due to their situation. We specifically assist those who are financially disadvantaged. However, strict guidelines apply: we only support families who, due to their financial situation, cannot absorb the additional costs themselves.
Are there moments when you feel: our work truly makes a difference?
Yes, those moments happen again and again. Especially when we receive thank‑you letters or photos from families where children and parents are smiling freely for the first time in a long while. Then we know our support is bringing real relief.
What does a child's illness mean for siblings and the wider family - and what does relief look like for them?
Siblings often experience a quiet form of strain. They worry, they feel the stress and the parents’ absence, but they don’t want to add to the burden. Relief for them means attention, reliability, and small islands of normality — moments in which they are seen and have someone by their side. For parents, it is an enormous help to know that someone can look after the siblings for a short time.
Do you observe that families often accept support late? Why do you think that is?
It varies widely. Some families never seek financial help because they want to manage everything on their own. Others accept only part of the support to ensure they still contribute something themselves.
We live in a performance-oriented society. Many parents feel they must “somehow manage on their own.” Social workers play a crucial role here. They show families that they don’t have to carry everything alone.
Unfortunately, these positions are increasingly being cut due to financial pressure in the healthcare system — meaning that despite ongoing need, less support reaches the families.
How does the work of the Children Cancer Foundation complement the existing medical and social services in the country?
In a small country like Liechtenstein, thankfully only a few children are affected. This allows us to target our assistance very precisely. We deliberately focus on families who are financially disadvantaged and pushed to their limits by their child’s illness.
Unfortunately, financial support does not always automatically translate into relief. If a family is already receiving social welfare and additionally receives income replacement or other support from us, this can trigger new administrative reviews. These processes can cause delays, further straining the families’ financial situation despite clear need.
You have been part of the Children Cancer Foundation for about a year. Why did you choose this role — and what has surprised you most?
Here, I can use my skills where they have a direct impact. The work is not always easy, but it does a lot of good. Seeing that our support truly makes a difference for a family gives me so much back.
What surprised me most is the deep insight into the reality of life for affected families. You only understand over time how much they must shoulder beyond the medical treatment. This closeness to the impact of one’s work is incredibly fulfilling. You feel that your commitment reaches the people who need it most.
What do you wish for the future development of the Children Cancer Foundation — for the families you support?
Above all, I wish for greater visibility and solidarity. CCF relies on donations to support financially disadvantaged families.
I wish that people who are doing well will share a piece of their good fortune. Childhood cancer can affect any family — regardless of background or life situation. A functioning society shows itself in how those not currently affected support those who are going through an extraordinarily difficult time.
If this solidarity grows, we can relieve families even more effectively and give them a measure of stability during an extremely challenging phase.
