Essays --

How do life threatening illnesses affect children and their families? All children will likely have many different health problems during infancy and childhood, but for most children these problems are mild, they come and go, and they do not interfere with their daily life and development. For some children, however, chronic health conditions affect everyday life throughout childhood. Even though these are very different illnesses, kids and families dealing with any chronic condition have a lot in common. Learning to live with a chronic condition can be very challenging for a child, for parents, and for siblings and friends. I know that children with these types of illnesses struggle in school and with life. Not only is it hard enough for them to get through school but sometimes the schools don’t corporate by not following their 504 plans. Children have to travel thousands of miles to see a doctor for something that isn’t curable but with the help and dedication of the doctors they are able to use experimental treatments hoping to prolong their life. Ten years ago they had one experimental treatment for pulmonary hypertension and within ten years they were able to develop two more. Some days the kids are so sick they can’t even get out of bed. When my sister was in seventh grade she missed more than fifty days of school. Their medicine is always changing and nothing in their life is ever stable. Children with chronic illnesses are more likely to experience frequent doctor and hospital visits. Some of their treatments may be scary or painful. Hospital stays can be frightening and lonely. Children with chronic illnesses will feel "different" than other children. Their activities may be limited, and, in many cases, their families m... ...erything is spinning wildly out of control. There are new medical terms to learn, and new procedures and routines to master. You want to provide the person with every opportunity for survival without making any mistakes. Life as you know it is put on hold and you rely on adrenalin to get you through the initial crisis. Perhaps the hardest thing to deal with is the overwhelming unfairness of the situation. "This shouldn't happen to kids-especially my family!" But it has and as the reality of the situation sets in, your focus will need to change from the immediate to the long term. You will need to carefully evaluate your lifestyle and be willing to adjust it to your new reality. The circumstances that clamor loudest for your attention may not always be the most important ones to concentrate your limited resources on and you will need to make the most of everyday.