Grandparents
Grandparents |
| As a grandparent of a child with cancer, there is concern for your grandchild, as well as for your son or daughter. Sometimes this ‘double hurt’ may not be appreciated by others, and sometimes your role within the family can change significantly. There is a lot of support that you can offer, including practical support, such as taking your grandchild to the hospital, or caring for other children. Emotional support is also important, such as sitting with your child or grandchild in hospital, listening to their problems, and sharing their emotions. It is also important to look after yourself. Often informal support from friends and family may help to manage the shock of a diagnosis, but there are also other people who may help, such as your child’s social worker, mental health clinician, community counsellor or support groups. It might be enough to call someone, such as the Cancer Council Victoria Helpline, or you might feel like you need more (see the Getting Help section). |