My Child has Cancer: Finding the Silver Lining in Every Mother's Nightmare

Abstract

Having a child with cancer is one of the most taxing experiences a family can endure. With that in mind, the primary objective of this research was to explore the lived experiences of mothers of children with pediatric cancer during diagnosis, treatment, and the period thereafter. The specific purpose of this article however, was to examine the benefits or positives that emerged from the experience. One-on-one and e-mail semi-structured interviews were completed with 9 mothers of children treated for pediatric cancer. Four of the children had passed away from their illnesses. The subthemes derived for the benefits of the mothers' experiences consisted of: (1) support: importance of family and friends; (2) when life gives you lemons; and (3) finding the silver lining. It is anticipated that the findings from this exploratory research will be used as a source of support for individuals in similar situations and for front-line health care professionals.

“As long as you need me I’m yours.” Caregiving for a pediatric cancer survivor

“…Some stated that they appreciate their families more and make a concerted effort to spend more time with their family and friends. The same results were discussed in a paper by Author, [4] in which mothers discussed how their family and friend groups became extremely supportive during their children's cancer treatment, and that appreciation for their supports continued after the child had completed treatment. Moreover, the support persons in this study stated that they lived their lives differently now, as they discussed how they valued life more, and appreciated how precious life can be.…”

“…We discussed similar changes with her mothers' outlooks on life. [4] The mothers discussed how they approached situations with positivity, did not stress over the small things, and, for those whose children lived, were beyond grateful. It is important to note that [4] the perspectives of mothers whose children had just finished treatment, or had passed away from their cancer.…”

“…[4] The mothers discussed how they approached situations with positivity, did not stress over the small things, and, for those whose children lived, were beyond grateful. It is important to note that [4] the perspectives of mothers whose children had just finished treatment, or had passed away from their cancer. Although the sample [4] was not entirely similar to the study at hand, the findings mirror the opinions of the support persons.…”

“…It is important to note that [4] the perspectives of mothers whose children had just finished treatment, or had passed away from their cancer. Although the sample [4] was not entirely similar to the study at hand, the findings mirror the opinions of the support persons.…”

“…[1][2][3][4][5][6][7] While much work has been invested in studying the effects of cancer on the child, it is also important to understand the effects of a pediatric cancer diagnosis on individuals close to the children -particularly immediate family members, such as parents and siblings. Previous research has described both costs and benefits of a pediatric cancer diagnosis, although the majority of research is negative in nature.…”