Skip to main content

Lund University Publications

LUND UNIVERSITY LIBRARIES

Like being covered in a wet and dark blanket – Parents' lived experiences of losing a child to cancer

Björk, Maria LU ; Sundler, Annelie J. ; Hallström, Inger LU and Hammarlund, Kina (2016) In European Journal of Oncology Nursing 25. p.40-45
Abstract

Purpose The aim of this study was to illuminate parents' lived experiences of losing a child to cancer. Method Interviews and a narrative about parents' experiences of losing a child to cancer were gathered from six parents of children whom had participated in a longitudinal study across the child's illness trajectory. The analysis of the data was inspired by van Manen's hermeneutic phenomenological approach. Results One essential theme emerged: Like being covered in a wet and dark blanket, as well as six related themes: Feeling conflicting emotions, Preparing for the moment of death, Continuing parenting after death, Recollecting and sharing memories, Working through the sorrow and New perspectives in life. Conclusion There is a need... (More)

Purpose The aim of this study was to illuminate parents' lived experiences of losing a child to cancer. Method Interviews and a narrative about parents' experiences of losing a child to cancer were gathered from six parents of children whom had participated in a longitudinal study across the child's illness trajectory. The analysis of the data was inspired by van Manen's hermeneutic phenomenological approach. Results One essential theme emerged: Like being covered in a wet and dark blanket, as well as six related themes: Feeling conflicting emotions, Preparing for the moment of death, Continuing parenting after death, Recollecting and sharing memories, Working through the sorrow and New perspectives in life. Conclusion There is a need for good palliative care. If not, there is a risk that the parent will perseverate and blame themselves for not being a good parent during the suffering child's last time in life. Meetings with the parents six months and two years after the child's death might facilitate healing through the grief process.

(Less)
Please use this url to cite or link to this publication:
author
; ; and
organization
publishing date
type
Contribution to journal
publication status
published
subject
keywords
Death, Lived experience, Nursing, Paediatric cancer, Palliative care, Parents
in
European Journal of Oncology Nursing
volume
25
pages
6 pages
publisher
Elsevier
external identifiers
  • pmid:27865251
  • wos:000389172500006
  • scopus:84988644276
ISSN
1462-3889
DOI
10.1016/j.ejon.2016.08.007
project
Children with cancer
LUC3 - Lund University Child Centered Care
Hospital-based Home Care for children with long-term illness
language
English
LU publication?
yes
id
ccb3a804-a6cc-4374-b5b8-193ba0b787b8
date added to LUP
2016-10-12 13:35:04
date last changed
2024-04-05 06:27:31
@article{ccb3a804-a6cc-4374-b5b8-193ba0b787b8,
  abstract     = {{<p>Purpose The aim of this study was to illuminate parents' lived experiences of losing a child to cancer. Method Interviews and a narrative about parents' experiences of losing a child to cancer were gathered from six parents of children whom had participated in a longitudinal study across the child's illness trajectory. The analysis of the data was inspired by van Manen's hermeneutic phenomenological approach. Results One essential theme emerged: Like being covered in a wet and dark blanket, as well as six related themes: Feeling conflicting emotions, Preparing for the moment of death, Continuing parenting after death, Recollecting and sharing memories, Working through the sorrow and New perspectives in life. Conclusion There is a need for good palliative care. If not, there is a risk that the parent will perseverate and blame themselves for not being a good parent during the suffering child's last time in life. Meetings with the parents six months and two years after the child's death might facilitate healing through the grief process.</p>}},
  author       = {{Björk, Maria and Sundler, Annelie J. and Hallström, Inger and Hammarlund, Kina}},
  issn         = {{1462-3889}},
  keywords     = {{Death; Lived experience; Nursing; Paediatric cancer; Palliative care; Parents}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  month        = {{12}},
  pages        = {{40--45}},
  publisher    = {{Elsevier}},
  series       = {{European Journal of Oncology Nursing}},
  title        = {{Like being covered in a wet and dark blanket – Parents' lived experiences of losing a child to cancer}},
  url          = {{https://lup.lub.lu.se/search/files/20479515/13832272.pdf}},
  doi          = {{10.1016/j.ejon.2016.08.007}},
  volume       = {{25}},
  year         = {{2016}},
}