I have worked in the special needs community, and now the addiction community for over 15 years. My son was diagnosed with childhood cancer, with complex chronic side effects to treatment that we've managed for 19 years. Some of these side effects echo what we know about ACES and it stands to reason that trauma has impact. I see very little about what we know about ACEs extending into the community caring for children who are chronically ill. But I know what the stress looks like for us, and so many families I've met over the last two decades. To refer to it as suffocating at times is putting it mildly. What would the best certificate or degree be to begin to do some meaningful work to lay the foundation to extend what we know to the chronically ill? I've worked in nonprofit leadership, but that isn't enough. I'm at a point where I want to go back to school, and have considered being a therapist, but this seems like something that is so significantly lacking that it may be more important work for me to commit to. Most of our families have no one to turn to for support, as we have children maturing into adults isolated, alone, terrified, and struggling. It is heartbreaking to watch how so many of these kids suffer at 16, 18, 20, 23, 25 years. With no one who understands them, or offering more than " a really great camp experience" (which if one more person offers either my son or I a really great camp experience I think we'd scream), the lack of adequate services is resounding. I'd welcome any feedback and thoughts, either by reply or private message. Thank you in advance for any responses.
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