[Sarah Curry]

#86051

I have been a part of the team taking care of a teenager with osteosarcoma whose cancer has metastasized. I could not find the words to label what he has been going through for months but realise now that it was spiritual distress. He was angry, quiet, depressed, he would lash out at everyone and then he would ignore everyone. His parents said that this wasn’t like him at all, he had always got along with everyone and was happy.
Over the months, his relationship with his parents and with us on the team has changed and gone through different seasons. After months of treatment and showing him care, he has turned a corner and is happier. His mom says he is like his old self. He has also said things that show he has hope and he has some peace about his diagnosis.
I’m thankful for this course opening my eyes and putting words to what I have been experiencing with so many of my patients. Now I feel like I have the words to open up conversations that can really help.

[Sarah Wilkins]

#86110

Thanks for sharing with us Sarah. It’s amazing to hear how your your learnings have made impact on your patient care already. That’s very helpful insight you have passed on, having and using the appropriate words to start conversations.

[Helene Best]

#86150

I found the reading about the spiritual needs and signs of spiritual distress very helpful. It helped me to understand the whole process better. Like you have mentioned, Sarah, it helps us to understand and support our patients better, and the knowledge can help the parents to understand and handle their children/teenagers in distress with sensitivity and insight. Conversations, journaling, creative writing, art and music can be used to connect to the child and to unravel/work through the feelings that they are facing.

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