The Family Life of Sick Children: A Study of Families Coping With Chronic Childhood Disease (Routledge Library Editions: Health, Disease and Society)

Originally published in 1975, this book traces the problems which arise for families coping with a chronic childhood disease – cystic fibrosis. The discussion of these problems is important for the families of other seriously ill or disabled children, all of whom are faced with similar implications of their situation. The book looks at the stressful situations which face them: mastering the child’s treatment technique, assisting them to come to terms with their disease. It deals with the practical problems which arise for the parents and siblings of a sick child and explores the profound repercussions of the loss of a child on the entire family, considering the ways in which many of these families managed to transcend their problems. Originally published in 1975, this book traces the problems which arise for families coping with a chronic childhood disease – cystic fibrosis. The discussion of these problems is important for the families of other seriously ill or disabled children, all of whom are faced with similar implications of their situation. Cover 1 Half Title 2 Title Page 4 Copyright Page 5 Original Title Page 6 Original Copyright Page 7 Dedication 8 Table of Contents 10 List of Tables 12 Acknowledgments 14 Introduction: Sick Children and Their Parents 16 1 Children with Cystic Fibrosis 21 2 Recognising Preliminary Symptoms and Obtaining an Adequate Diagnosis 37 3 Learning the Diagnosis 50 4 Understanding the Illness 65 5 Coping with an Inherited Disease 80 6 Giving the Child His Treatment 94 7 The Child in Hospital 113 8 Practical Problems Posed by Chronic Disease 132 9 Talking About the Disease 143 10 Changing Hopes and Expectations for the Sick Child 154 11 Sick Children 172 12 Brothers and Sisters of a Sick Child 204 13 The Loss of a Child 217 14 Learning to Live with a Chronic Disease 238 Some Organisations Which May Be Helpful to Parents 251 Bibliography 267 Index 274 paediatric,medicine;,problem,behaviours,in,children;,inherited,disease,patterns;,childhood,health,and,illness paediatric medicine,problem behaviours in children,inherited disease patterns,childhood health and illness