Aflac supports CHKD’s XIBS program for siblings of pediatric cancer patients

Thanks to a generous grant from Aflac, Children’s Hospital of The King’s Daughters (CHKD), will continue to provide support for siblings of pediatric cancer patients, through a program called XIBS — EXtremely Important Brothers and Sisters.

Siblings are often separated for long periods of time from their brother or sister and caregivers, and parents often ask for helpful words to say or how to talk about cancer to their other children.

Through XIBS, the Child Life program and psychosocial team provide developmentally appropriate resources to siblings aiding in support during difficult situations from diagnosis to end of treatment.

Resources include bags, games, age appropriate workbooks, credible books (The Moon Balloon, Life Isn’t a Day at the Beach, Life Isn’t Always a Breeze, The Perfect Shelter and more) and activities (fidget toy, playdoh. etc.) for siblings, along with quarterly XIBS mailings that include postcards, toys, games and additional books that help to make them feel special and empowering them with resources.

The program also allows us to provide virtual tours of our facility that we can share with siblings, giving them the ability to see where their brother or sister receives treatments in hopes to decrease confusion and stress.

In 2021, Aflac provided CHKD with a grant that allowed us to expand this program and provide resource bags for every sibling upon diagnosis. We continue to adapt, providing more resources specific to each sibling throughout their entire journey. With future support, we hope to follow the enrolled siblings after remission or the loss of a brother or sister to provide additional coping resources and the continuity of care.

We are grateful to Aflac for their continued support.