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USEFUL DOWNLOADS

Finding Your Way Through Grief: For teenagers and young adults

This book was written by the social work team of St Francis Hospice Dublin in collaboration with bereaved teenagers, who speak in the book about what helped them in their grief. It is the first book in the Irish context designed as a resource for young people themselves to use as they navigate their way through bereavement and loss.

Link to Resource: Finding Your Way Through Grief

Making Memories

Experts agree that one of the most positive things you can do during your child’s life is focus on making memories. Having those wonderful shared experiences you have enjoyed with your child will not only help you to remember your time with your child but can act as bonding experience for the whole family in the present as well as the future.

“Making Memories” is a document created by Sharon Thompson, mother to Victoria Thompson, with advice from The Mothers of The Extra Special Kids Ireland Facebook page. The document details how and Sharon and other mothers have approached creating their own memory boxes.

Download: Making Memories

Things We Wish We Knew

This documented was written by Sharon Thompson and draws upon her’s and her husbands experiences during the life of their daughter, Victoria Thompson. It takes a retrospective look at the time they spent in palliative care with their child and lists things they wish they knew from the very start.

Link to download: Things We Wish We Knew

A Parent’s Guide – Making Critical Care Choices for your Child

The document is written in a simple question and answer style format, and includes some of the key questions or concerns regarding critical care.

Link to Download: A Parent’s Guide – Making Critical Care Choices for your Child

Parenting a Child with a Life-Limiting Illness

Learning that a child has a life-limiting illness can be devastating. After learning the typical prognosis for the disease, it is not unusual to worry about the future and anticipate what’s to come. But with a slowly regressing illness, there is a lot of time to understand what you will need medically and emotionally. There will be time to connect with others and gain support; there will be time to explore treatment methods.

Link to Download: Toolkit: Parenting a Child with a Life-Limiting Illness

This Family Companion 2014

This Family Companion is designed especially for parents/carers and family members of children and young people who have been diagnosed with a life-limiting or life-threatening condition.

At a time when things can seem overwhelming, this Companion acts as a step by step guide through the complex and often confusing processes that take place following diagnosis.

It is designed to help parents think important things through, as well as provide information about what can be expected – explaining what should happen, why it should happen as well as making it clear what support should be made available, and where that support can be found.

Link to Download: A Family Companion 2014

Pediatric Starter Kit – The Conversation Project

The Pediatric Starter Kit offers advice and provides stories from parents and palliative care specialists who have been there. It provides questions that can help parents navigate the approach to the conversation based on the personality and cognitive level of the child.

Link to Download: Pediatric Starter Kit

Spiritual, religious and cultural wishes

Spiritual, religious and cultural wishes explains how spirituality, religion and cultural backgrounds can play a big part in shaping families’ wishes, and aims to give parents the confidence to ask professionals to care for their child in accordance with their values or beliefs, whatever they may be. It also explains the role of the chaplain or spiritual care team and emphasises that they are there to help everyone, regardless of faith.

Link to Download: Spiritual, religious and cultural wishes

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