How Jeneece Place helped this family through the hardest years

When Mike thinks about the most difficult days of his son Vince’s cancer journey, one thing stands out: the relief of having a place to stay close to care.  

Vince was just four years old when his eyes began to swell. Tests revealed a tumour behind his eye, followed by rounds of chemotherapy and ongoing monitoring. Today, at 14, Vince is doing well — a music-loving teen who enjoys theatre, video games, and joking around with friends. “He’s a pretty happy kid,” Mike said.  

Throughout Vince’s treatment, the family made multiple trips for care, often with little notice and long gaps between appointments. That’s when Jeneece Place, our Home Away From Home in Victoria, became essential.  

Arriving late one night for their first stay, Mike remembers the immediate sense of relief. “There was lots of hustle and bustle, and then we arrived at Jeneece Place and it was just nice and quiet and calming,” he said. Being steps from the hospital also made a big difference. “It’s basically just a little walk… that was nice.”  

For Mike’s family, the financial barrier of travel and accommodation was very real. “The financial thing was definitely the number one problem the whole time,” he shared. “If we didn’t have Jeneece Place there, we would have had to figure out where we’d get the money for somewhere to stay.”  

Beyond affordability, the house offered something just as important: peace of mind. During times when work kept Mike at home, his family was in good hands. “It was comforting to know that they were staying there… that Vince and his mom would be safe.”  

Most of all, Jeneece Place allowed the family to focus on what mattered most. “It just allowed us to focus on keeping him happy, keeping him fed, keeping him healthy,” Mike said.