Coping
with Yor Child's Chronic Illness
Author: Alesia T Singer
Published: Robert D Reed (1999)
Alesia Barrett Singer has written a very readable introduction
to the problems encountered when dealing with chronic illness,
particularly when it is your child who is ill. She starts with
a brief description of the five steps of grief commonly encountered
(denial, anger, bargaining, depression, and finally, acceptance.)
She gives recognition to the fact that accepting that your child
has a chronic illness can be a very difficult thing to do. She
then details coping strategies regarding chronic illness when
it affects your child. She gives advice as to how to educate
yourself about the illness, how to get the best information from
the medical system, how to advocate for your child both emotionally
and physically, the best ways to talk to your child about their
illness and how and when to involve other siblings and other
family members. There can be a tendency to focus all attention
on the sick child and leave other family members grieving. Lastly,
she focuses on care of the caregiver and the need for them to
be kind to themselves and suggests ways for them to avoid parent
burn out.
Her commonsense approach gives an effective first steps guide
to help parents and families coping with chronic illness. Recommended.
(reviewed by Raewyn Bluck, Committee member)
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