PurposeThroughout a child’s cancer treatment, health professionals (HPs) constitute an important source of support for the entire family. However, the understanding of their presence and essential attributes is unclear. This study explored HPs’ presence and attributes in connecting with parents and identified facilitating and inhibiting factors for connectedness. MethodsThis qualitative study was undertaken in a compassion paradigm, designed and guided by Heidegger’s and Gadamer’s philosophy, and employed compassionate methods. Data were generated through ethnographic fieldwork (144 hours), parent interviews (n=16), and focus group interviews with parents of cancer survivors (n=2) and HPs (n=3). Inductive content analysis was utilised to analyse data. ResultsMany HP-parent contacts developed into close, genuine connections based on HPs’ great commitment and ability to balance the act of closeness and distance. This involved HPs’ sensitivity, humanity, humility, honest communication, genuine interest, and high clinical competencies; all promoting trust. Adapting and ending close relationships when approaching the end of treatment had little attention and was difficult for families, making some find ways of keeping contact on a personal level. Barriers disclosed were structural work changes, busyness, dishonest, poor, or lack of communication, and poor or lack of interpersonal chemistry. ConclusionHuman connectedness is powerful in professional relationships and strengthens the parents. More research and clinical attention are needed to develop the understanding and help target actions toward building, maintaining, and ending relationships. Further, cultivating being present in the moment, through mindfulness and compassion, may support HPs in maintaining a receptive mind and a caring role.