Working with cancer-sick children in Luxembourg

“Since I started to take care of children with cancer, I don't know how many children I've worked with. I only know that 51 children have died since 1994. I remember each of them,” explains Marie-Marthe Bruck-Clees, who has been working with cancer sick children in Luxembourg for 20 years.

In that time,she has changed peoples' lives through her tireless work with patients and their families.

Even if she had time to be sentimental or saddened by the losses, Madame Bruck is never one to be easily put off. “Like anyone, there have been times when I've known jealousy, dishonesty and malice. But the extraordinary courage of the sick children we help has taught me never to give up, whatever the circumstances,” she said.

With 12 new childhood cancer cases diagnosed in Luxembourg each year, the association Een Häerz fir kriibskrank Kanner serves a real need. It was set up in 2000 as a source of information, a shoulder to cry on, a helping hand and to provide for all the needs of a cancer-sick child and their family, roles it continues to serve today.

“Each family has different needs and it depends what those are as to how we support them. It can be that in the beginning there are a lot of people around them to help. But, if the illness lasts a long time, the family may find there are fewer people around to help at the end.”

Seven staff members, including a psychologist and an occupational therapist, run the charity from its centre in Boevange/Attert, offering a peaceful refuge where children can play and take part in camps and workshops.

Families are referred to the association or come directly whereupon they learn about the kinds of treatment available. Children are given counselling and the charity may handle the organisation of health insurance ensuring that families can be there to support their child. Meanwhile, parents and siblings are introduced to a parent association support network, allowing them to meet other people who have experienced similar things.

The association was born out of a series of projects assisted by Madame Bruck. During the 1990s, she led a humanitarian aid team on behalf of the Luxembourg state to the Ukraine and Russia, assisting victims of the Chernobyl disaster. Horrified by the suffering of children in Hospital 14, Madame Bruck and her husband went onto found Help for Cancer Sick children in Hospital 14 Kiev, a charity which found equipment and medicine to perform chemotherapy.

A few years later, she joined forces with another like-minded woman in Luxembourg to found the Fondation aide aux enfants attaints d’un cancer. Since 2000 the asbl Een Häerz fir kriibskrank Kanner, as a break-off group run for parents and their children by parents, fights for a law which will assist its beneficiaries by giving patients easier access to the right care.

A key project she is working on is to forge links with a hospital in Homburg, offering 24/7 support for doctors administering pain treatment to children in Luxembourg. The charity's parent association extends beyond the country's border, assisting parents in Lorraine, in France, and in Belgium, where there are no equivalent groups.

To find out more, log onto wort.lu/en during the coming weeks where we will publish a series of articles about the charity and its projects in Homburg. Alternatively, visit the information session on February 15.

Find out more

The asbl Een Häerz fir kriibskrank Kanner is to co-host an information evening about care for cancer-sick children in Luxembourg on February 15.

The event is to be held at the Kirchberg Hospital auditorium and will include speakers Jean-Marie Machtelinckx, from the charity, Professor Dr. Norbert Graf, director of paediatric oncology at the Universities hospital in Homburg, Dr Sven Gottschling, director of child therapy and paediatric care at the Universities hospital in Homburg and Dr Marc Diederich, director of the Luxembourg laboratory for molecular and cellular cancer.

9 rue Edward Steichen, L-2540. From 7pm. The session is given in French and German. It is supported by the Luxembourg ministries of health and families.