Soliciting information

[pegkerr]

Anyone have any information or opinions on the helpfulness of Caring Bridge versus Navigating Cancer as to their helpfulness for families going through medical crises challenges? Anyone on my friends list familiar with/used either one? Thanks.

Comments

[wild_irises]

I don't know Navigating Center.

Caring Bridge has a support area, which I also don't know, but its primary function is to keep people informed and in touch, which it does very well.

The best site I know for arranging a support team and getting help is Lotsa Helping Hands, which is pretty good.

You didn't say whether your primary need is support or news dissemination, but I think deciding that is a good place to start.

Good luck!

[loredena]

We used Caring Bridge for my father. It was a wonderful way to communicate with friends and family so we didn't have to have the repeated phone calls. It took a tremendous strain off of all of us, especially my mother.

Some family members made donations, many many people commented. Both those who can post (the family typically, but anyone can be designated) and those who read can sign up to be notified of new activity. That also helped as so many people did exactly that. It also facilitated communication with my parents Church at times, since someone in the office could monitor and let the Priests know if he was hospitalized.

We included photos and memories, and after we made final posts after he passed we were able to have it printed into a memory book, including choosing a photo for the cover. It's all about communication though, or at least we did not leverage it for anything else. I don't know anything about the Navigating Cancer site.

As an addendum, something that also helped but was organized by my parents neighbors (who were and are incredible) was a Food Train. There's at least one site that facilitates that, should any friends or neighbors ask how they can help.

[flourish]

My aunt and her family used Caring Bridge as she fought breast cancer. It was really good at getting people involved who don't use the computer a lot, and it helped communicate everything clearly without having the same kind of public blah that you probably don't want—especially as she neared the end. I know it was really helpful for her closer family to be able to just post things once and never have to worry about it again.