Caring for a Child With an Acquired Disability

Abstract

This study explored how parents of children with acquired disabilities transform loss into meaning when faced with traumatic experiences. This type of loss is ambiguous and different from that of the bereaved. Directed content analysis was guided by the predetermined categories of unveiling, darkness, and light. Stories from 8 parents revealed the ability to decide how they perceived their experiences, discovering meaning in caring for their child despite the suffering associated with loss. These findings offer direction for nursing research, practice, and policy on how to assist parents in overcoming these challenges and shed light on the dynamic perspectives of loss.