At 13, Jay Hung became a caregiver: Now he’s built a support community

Jay Hung, 13, became a young caregiver (center)Screenshot from CHCH News When most teenagers are focused on school, friendships and weekend plans, Jay Hung was learning how to care for his mother. At just 13, the Queen’s University student became a young caregiver after his mother was diagnosed with late-stage cancer. Years later, Hung is using that experience to help other young Canadians feel less isolated and more prepared for a role they often take on without warning.In an interview with CHCH’s Morning Live, Hung spoke about his caregiving journey alongside Amy Coupal of the Ontario Caregiver Organization. The segment highlighted a largely unseen reality: an estimated 1.2 million young people in Canada provide care for a family member while also trying to keep up with school, social life and their own emotional needs.Hung’s story shows why young caregivers need more than occasional advice. They need peers who understand the complicated mix of love, fear, responsibility and exhaustion that comes with supporting someone who is ill.A childhood that changed overnightHung became a caregiver in 2019, when his mother was diagnosed with late-stage cancer. At the time, he was only 13.Fo...