How to talk to a child about a parent’s diagnosis and transplant
• When?
Initially, set up a time to tell children after you have had time to process your diagnosis. Although you may feel the need to discuss your diagnosis and transplant with other people such as family and friends, be careful that your children hear about the diagnosis from you first and not from someone else. Inform the children shortly after you find out that you will need a transplant. Children are smart and will figure out that their parent is hiding something.
You may decide to tell the children with a professional present. Many hospitals have social workers that work with children or case manager’s that will help a family talk through the diagnosis and transplant …show more content…
You might look different and that your hair may fall out, but this is because the medicine is working. Reassure them that the medications are what help kill cancer cells and the transplant will help you.
When you are done talking to your child, ask them to repeat back to you what you said. Listen closely as this will give you an idea of what they are most concerned about. You may need to repeat some of the information as each child processes information differently. Explaining cancer to a child can be stressful for both of you and people don’t always retain information accurately or completely when they are stressed.
Ask them what they are feeling and thinking. They may need a prompt such as “What are you feeling?” Instead of asking them if they have any questions, ask the child “What are your questions?” Answer them honestly and openly.
What if they don’t want to talk?
If you child doesn’t want to talk, don’t force them. They may need to talk to a school counselor or a family doctor to help them process the information about the diagnosis and …show more content…
Strategies parents can use to keep connected with children during treatment Ask them how they prefer to be in contact with you. Do they want to call you or write letters? Do they want to talk to you at bedtime or after school?
Facetime and Skype are good ways for your children to see you, but keep in mind, if you are having a tough day in the hospital, it may be difficult for them to see you distressed. “Face-to-face” phone calls may need to be periodic.
Consider starting a family journal while you are in the hospital. Write down some things about your day or what you miss about them and have your spouse/partner bring it home for the children to write in and then send back. Ask the children questions about their day. For older children such as teens, if you know you are going to be missing a child’s important event such as prom or graduation, plan ahead to have a friend take photos. Consider purchasing a gift or writing letter ahead of time for the special day. You can also plan a head of time (or surprise them) to have a special relative or family friend taking them shopping for a prom dress or help them plan a future graduation
• When?
Initially, set up a time to tell children after you have had time to process your diagnosis. Although you may feel the need to discuss your diagnosis and transplant with other people such as family and friends, be careful that your children hear about the diagnosis from you first and not from someone else. Inform the children shortly after you find out that you will need a transplant. Children are smart and will figure out that their parent is hiding something.
You may decide to tell the children with a professional present. Many hospitals have social workers that work with children or case manager’s that will help a family talk through the diagnosis and transplant …show more content…
You might look different and that your hair may fall out, but this is because the medicine is working. Reassure them that the medications are what help kill cancer cells and the transplant will help you.
When you are done talking to your child, ask them to repeat back to you what you said. Listen closely as this will give you an idea of what they are most concerned about. You may need to repeat some of the information as each child processes information differently. Explaining cancer to a child can be stressful for both of you and people don’t always retain information accurately or completely when they are stressed.
Ask them what they are feeling and thinking. They may need a prompt such as “What are you feeling?” Instead of asking them if they have any questions, ask the child “What are your questions?” Answer them honestly and openly.
What if they don’t want to talk?
If you child doesn’t want to talk, don’t force them. They may need to talk to a school counselor or a family doctor to help them process the information about the diagnosis and …show more content…
Strategies parents can use to keep connected with children during treatment Ask them how they prefer to be in contact with you. Do they want to call you or write letters? Do they want to talk to you at bedtime or after school?
Facetime and Skype are good ways for your children to see you, but keep in mind, if you are having a tough day in the hospital, it may be difficult for them to see you distressed. “Face-to-face” phone calls may need to be periodic.
Consider starting a family journal while you are in the hospital. Write down some things about your day or what you miss about them and have your spouse/partner bring it home for the children to write in and then send back. Ask the children questions about their day. For older children such as teens, if you know you are going to be missing a child’s important event such as prom or graduation, plan ahead to have a friend take photos. Consider purchasing a gift or writing letter ahead of time for the special day. You can also plan a head of time (or surprise them) to have a special relative or family friend taking them shopping for a prom dress or help them plan a future graduation