About our children. Approaching grief for parents and siblings.

Abstract

While thedeathof anyloved onetypically bringson a periodof grief, thedeathof a child often leadsto amoreintenseanddifficult grieving process.This is becausein our societythedeathof achild is consideredto beunacceptable. While we mournthe deathof a belovedgrandparent,we are usuallyableto accepttheir deathasafinal phaseof life. However,whenachild dies, the deathis ashockto thenormal living process.Whena child dies, it destroyshopes anddreamsfor the future, and forcesoneto faceaneventthat a personis unwilling to accept. This article will discussthe grief processof parentsand siblings,in orderto provide hospicepractitionerswith someinsightson howto deal with this patientgroup. This will allow practitionersto provide bettercareto the entire family whenachild dies.The articlewill explainthat thereis neithera right nor wrongway to approachgrief, soeachpersonmustestablishindividual meansof dealingwith it. This articlewill stress,however, that thereis apatternto resolving grief. Many peoplehave sufferedlossesandexperiencedintensegrief, but they havesurvived.Forparents whohavelost achild, it is crucial thattheyrealize they arenot alone.Therearemany peoplewho care,andthey are willing andableto help.