A child afflicted with a major illness or sustaining a major injury is a parent's worst nightmare. Not only will you be faced with fulfilling their physical needs, but you'll also need to find ways to explain the situation to them in terms they can understand. But this doesn't have to be something you go through alone. Your family is a usually a great source of support in times like these. In addition, there are several community support groups you can take advantage of to talk with others going through similar situations. Consider the following suggestions to make this difficult time an experience that you can learn from while being a great parent to your child.

1. Be honest - Even if your child can't understand what's happening, it's best to be as honest with them as you can. Use language that doesn't unnecessarily frighten your child, though. Also, tell them the importance of communicating how they feel so you and the medical professionals can help as much as possible.
   
   
2. Prepare your child (and yourself) for any treatments and medications that they'll be getting - It's fine to tell them it might hurt a little or cause some discomfort, but reiterate the importance of being either a "big girl" or "big boy" when going through the treatments. You might even need some extra bravery as well if you're going to watch them administer the treatment.
   
   
3. Encourage communication of any kind - Sometimes children are shy or uncomfortable with sharing their feelings verbally. If this is the case, let your child express their thoughts and emotions in other ways. Some kids enjoy drawing while others might simply like to write out their thoughts. Let your child choose their method of communication as long as they can do it effectively and honestly.
   
   
4. Reassure them against their negative thoughts - Some children who have a major illness or injury blame themselves. They might think they did something wrong to bring it upon themselves or maybe they said something they shouldn't have said. Be sure to squash these thoughts and assure your child that it's just something that happens. Use language and examples that they can understand. If they have young siblings, they might have similar feelings. It's important to reassure the siblings that it's not their fault as well.
   
   
5. Don't minimize your child's feelings - Allow them to express themselves and ask any questions that they have. But don't tell them they're foolish for being scared or worried. Also, don't make false promises. Just reassure your child that you and your family will be there with them every step of the way so they feel comfortable and loved.
   
   
6. Allow yourself to say, "I don't know" - Your child will likely ask dozens of questions about the illness, why they got it and what's going to happen to them. There's nothing wrong with saying, "I don't know" instead of making up an answer. But with every "I don't know" answer, reassure them that they are getting the best treatment available and you'll do everything you can to make them feel better.
   
   
7. Treat your sick child as normally as possible - Depending on their illness or injury, this could be a difficult task as a parent. But following the normal daily routines is essential. Don't allow unacceptable behavior or overindulgence just because they are sick. If you do, it will just be more difficult to return to normalcy once the sickness is over. Special treatment will also make their siblings resent them which could create a hostile environment in the home.
   
   
8. Take care of yourself - You might want to spend every second at the hospital with your child, but this can create health problems for yourself. You might even forget to eat or take necessary medications. You're not doing anybody any favors if you don't take proper care of yourself. You only make it harder on yourself and your support system if you come down with any health problems as a result of not taking care of yourself.

Dealing in any situations of major illness or injury in children can be difficult and frustrating. However, learning to adjust takes time, patience and a willingness to teach your child about their bodies and their illness or injury. Only then can your child begin to accept the challenges of taking care of themselves physically and mentally.

Hopefully, you'll never have to deal with this type of situation. It can be very taxing on yourself and the entire family. That's not even mentioning the child that has to endure the health problem. There is no easy way to deal with a child who has a major illness, but following these suggestions can help reduce the stress of the situation and put everybody at ease.