David
1 year ago
Hi Lindsay,
We are sorry to hear about your mum’s diagnosis and everything the
family is experiencing. Understandably this can bring lots of difficult
questions and it’s natural for any kind of uncertainty to be scary, especially
when it involves terminal illness and a close family member. Being informed can
be reassuring and knowing what to expect might make the future seem a little
less intimidating.
Hopefully other members of the Marie Curie community will be able to
share their valuable insights and what they found useful in caring for a loved
one or talking with children about a grandparent’s illness. I can also share a
few helpful resources that we have available for those facing this
situation.
We hope that your mum gets all the palliative care and support she needs
from professionals but, as carers, you and your husband’s role is also one of
the most important. Our Being there section of the Maire Curie
website contains information tailored for carers and family members. Including
practical advice on everyday care, ways in which carers can access the support
they need when looking after a loved one, and what to expect at the end of
life. It’s important to reach out for help if you’re ever worried, this could
be your mum’s GP or a nurse - our Support Line also has palliative care nurses
available to speak with for information.
Talking to a child about terminal illness and the prospect of your mum
moving in is not easy and it’s normal to feel anxious about this conversation.
While you know your son better than anyone, you may find our website content
on talking to children helpful. There are
several pages on starting conversations with children, questions they might
ask, as well as books that can help. We also produce a booklet about this
called Supporting children when someone has a terminal illness.
It’s available to read online or our Support Line can send you a free copy. You
can of course speak with us too, to share any worries you have or ask
questions, on Freephone 0800 090 2309.
Take care,
David - Support Line Officer