Groups of Salt Lake kids are banding together, trying to understand why an insidious villain could snatch their mom or dad away from them at any time.

Some, at the prime of childhood, are forced to grow up before their time.

Science Specialist Ed Yeates reports from a first of its kind gathering place at the University of Utah.

The kids gather here at the Huntsman Cancer Institute, but what they do together behind these walls shows up in a unique way when they go home.

Darwin Gunthrie is only six years old. But after school he joins with his sisters, 10-year-old Jasmine and 9-year-old Brittany, to clean house and prepare dinner.

His mom, Shelly, is a single mom with fourth stage cancer.

SHELLY GUNTHRIE: "I WORRY ALL THE TIME ABOUT MY KIDS. IT'S VERY STRESSFUL."

Working full time to make ends meet while fighting a cancer that won't go away. This villain sometimes takes all she's got.

Many nights, Shelly falls asleep early. Jasmine wakes her up at eight for a shot, then makes sure her brother and sister are tucked in bed.

Shelly: "BUT IF IT WASN'T FOR THEM, I WOULDN'T FIGHT. I WOULD JUST LET IT GO." "BUT FOR THEM, I'M FIGHTING EVERY DAY AND I WANT THEM TO DO THE SAME FOR ME EVEN IF I'M GONE, TO KNOW THAT I'M THERE AND I LOVE THEM."

Shelly holds on because her children are strong.

Through this unique support group, they've learned how to deal with their mom's cancer.

All these kids have a parent with cancer. Together they talk, play, put together photo albums, visit clinics - even other patients in therapy.

Some even help in the care of their own parent, like James Whittenberg.

JAMES WHITTENBERG: "NICK, FOR EXAMPLE, WAS THREE YEARS OLD WHEN I GOT MY ORIGINAL DIAGNOSIS AND IT'S THE ONLY WAY HE HAS EVER KNOWN HIS FATHER."

James' cancer still scares Nick and his sisters, Kelsey and Lauren. But it's okay to be scared.

LAUREN WHITTENBERG: "I FELT KIND OF SCARED AND I CRIED MYSELF TO SLEEP THAT NIGHT."

KELSEY WHITTENBERG: "WHEN WE GOT THE RESULTS BACK THEY SAID THAT HE WASN'T GOING TO LIVE VERY LONG."

But live long James has--through three brain surgeries and numerous chemos. Good or bad, mom and dad share all news, all emotions, with their children.

JENNIFER WHITTENBERG: "WE CHOOSE TO LIVE EVERY DAY LIKE IT COULD BE OUR LAST AND WE HAVE TALKED ABOUT THINGS NORMAL PEOPLE DON'T TALK ABOUT."

BRITTANY & JASMINE GUNTHRIE: "WE TELL HER THAT SHE WILL BE ALRIGHT AND THAT WE LOVE HER MORE THAN ANYTHING IN THE WORLD,.AND WE TELL HER THAT SHE IS STRONG, AND THAT SHE CAN DEAL WITH IT."

In life or at death - deal with it! Some like Jasmine and Brittany are growing up before their time.

Caden lost his mother about a month ago. But in this group he can draw what he feels. In this case, it's an outlet for anger against the enemy that took her away.

MICHELE DABROWSKI, LICENSED CLINICAL SOCIAL WORKER: "THIS IS NOT A DISEASE OF A PERSON. IT'S A DISEASE OF A FAMILY OR A SYSTEM OF PEOPLE."

On the last day, these kids - bonded together in a common experience - trace their hands to say goodbye to each other. The hands symbolically also take on another meaning.

KRISTEN QUINN, SUPPORT GROUP FACILITATOR: "IF WE'RE NOT COMFORTABLE SAYING GOODBYE IN A NON-THREATENING WAY, HOW CAN WE WORK UP TO THE VERY SCARY GOODBYE AT DEATH?"

Like Caden, some of these kids may face that with a parent. But for now, for most, they still have a lot of hope.

For Brittany, Jasmine and Darwin, it's also a time to hold on to a lot of memories.

"LIKE WE USE TO LIKE THROW SNOWBALLS AT HER."

"THAT SHE USE TO PLAY WITH US - HIDE AND SEEK. AND SHE WOULD LET US JUMP ON THE BED AND SHE WOULD JUMP WITH US."

"THAT I LOVE HER." Though the support group is designed mainly for kids age 5 to 12 whose parent is still living, children are welcome back and can continue bonding with their peers even after the parent has died.

For more information on the program call 801-585-0212.