T R I - C I T I E S
Founded in 1994, the
Tri-Cities Cancer Center
is a leader in radiation
oncology in southeastern
Washington and
northeastern Oregon.
A partnership of
Lourdes Health Network,
Kennewick General
Hospital, Kadlec Regional
Medical Center, and the
Tri-Cities Community,
the center's mission is to
provide and coordinate
the highest quality,
compassionate care for the
communities we serve.
2013 Governing Board:
· Jeff Petersen, Chair
· Rick Millikin, Vice Chair
· P. Donna Vance,
Secretary & Treasurer
· PK Brockman
· Joseph Kelley, MD, PhD
· Susan Kreid
· Glen Marshall
· Thomas Rado, MD, PhD
· John Serle
· Rand Wortman
Administration Staff:
· Thomas Corley
· Michele Caron
· Vicki Dehler
· Elizabeth McLaughlin
· Michael Novakovich
· Janine McKeever
My Kids Konnection Experience
Jeanne McLaughlin
President Tri-Cities Cancer Center Guild
Kids Konnection is an educationally
based support program for children
held right here in our Wellness
Center! Children are ages 7-14 who
have a family member in their lives
who has been diagnosed with cancer.
Through activities, crafts, movies and
discussion the children learn how to
cope and deal with the feelings they
are experiencing.
The facilitator for this amazing
children's program is Chaplain
Bonnie Oneonta-Becraft. If you
have not met our Bonnie you need
to! This program brings so much to
our Cancer Center. Kids Konnection
is a tool for children that did not
exist when my little granddaughter
was faced with coping and trying
to understand what her daddy had.
Step ahead ten years and our Cancer
Center now has this wonderful
program and my granddaughter (yes,
the one who lost her daddy to cancer)
is now volunteering to help these
children!
I take my granddaughter to do her
volunteering with Kids Konnection
and I get to talk to different families.
A young father shared his story with
me...
He had just returned from four years
in Afghanistan. He suffered from
being hit by shrapnel in his head.
It was at this same time his wife
was diagnosed with cancer. He was
sharing how hard it was to do the
mom and dad roles while his wife was
going through her treatments and
so sick. Then he openly shared what
a great facility our Cancer Center is
for all of them. He talked about how
warm our staff is and how they knew
his family by name. He continued to
say, the physician explains everything
so well that he and his wife were
able to understand it all. This young
father also said that our physician is
also very warm and kind towards his
family. Our Cancer Center also has
all the extras for his wife. Items such
as wigs, hats, scarves, facials and
wellness classes.
His family is thankful for Kids
Konnection which has helped his two
young children to cope. The program
also gives him and his wife some
valuable time alone while the children
attend the class. He mentioned how
much his children look forward to
Kids Konnection; he went on and on
about how thankful they are for the
Cancer Center.
This is just one of the many stories
that are attached to our Tri-Cities
Cancer Center. It is through helping
others that we receive. Travel down
these halls one day and you too will
have a story to share.
To learn more about Kids Konnection
visit us at www.tccancer.org