Pam Ganz: Author of Cancer Books for Kids & Teens

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 “ From my decades of experience working with young people dealing with a cancer diagnosis, I know  that it’s important for kids to understand what is happening and to feel understood by those who love  them. As a result, creating age-appropriate and user-friendly resources to increase understanding and  support within a family was important to me.” Pam Ganz, MS 

         Pam Ganz has experience as a trained child life specialist and pediatric oncology counselor. She received an undergraduate degree in child development from Connecticut College. One year later, Pam received her child life certification from The Johns Hopkins Hospital, receiving specific training in both the bone marrow transplant unit and the pediatric oncology outpatient clinic. She continued her studies at the University of Nebraska, where she received her Master of Science degree in family rehabilitation and counseling psychology, focusing on the psychosocial impact of a cancer diagnosis. She spent six years at the Children's Cancer Center at Phoenix Children's Hospital as the Director of Psychosocial Programs, developing family-centered programs. During that time, she helped found and was co-director of Camp Rainbow, a week-long summer camp for children with cancer in Prescott, Arizona, which was featured on ABC World News Tonight in 1985.

         Since returning to her native Nebraska in 1989, she helped found and was the program coordinator for the Lincoln chapter of Candlelighters, where she also facilitated the parent support group. Pam used her skills and experience to help develop a support program for children whose family member is living with a life-threatening illness for Mourning Hope, a grief center in Lincoln, Nebraska. In addition, she has provided programming for workshops helping children impacted by a cancer diagnosis as well as programming activities and facilitating groups for several years at a day-long grief camp for children in Lincoln, Nebraska. Pam also has 17 years of experience working with hospice patients and their families.

        Resources created by Pam Ganz include Life Isn’t Always a Day at the Beach, a supportive  workbook for children ages 5-12 affected by a cancer diagnosis; Life Isn’t Always a Breeze, a supportive  journal for teens affected by a cancer diagnosis and Hey! What About Me? A Personal Journal for Teens  and Young Adults Whose Brother or Sister Has Cancer for SuperSibs.  

        In 2018 Pam partnered with Safra Children’s Hospital in Israel to adapt and translate Life Isn’t  Always a Day at the Beach for pediatric cancer patients. In 2022 a partnership was formed in a new  country. This meaningful collaborative project is with the Tabletochki Charitable Foundation in Kyiv,  Ukraine. Both books will be translated and adapted for Ukrainian children and teens