Like being covered in a wet and dark blanket – Parents' lived experiences of losing a child to cancer
(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.
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- author
- Björk, Maria LU ; Sundler, Annelie J. ; Hallström, Inger LU and Hammarlund, Kina
- organization
- publishing date
- 2016-12-01
- 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
- 2024-08-23 22:24:37
@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}}, }