Suspected childhood leukiemia...how to help his mum?

mcja

A very dear friend of my husbands has just called to say that her 2 year old has been transferred to our local children hospital with suspected leukaemia . He was having a bone marrow biopsy about an hour ago, so we should know more soon.

My question is, the little one will be given support from hospital, but apart from offering her food, bed, washing machine etc, is there anything else practically which we can do to support his mum at this awful time?
This may all be presumptuous (and I hope to god it is).

time2deal

Are there other children that need looking after, picking up from school etc? I think your idea of offering real practical things is the right approach, rather than generally saying 'let me know if I can help'. Maybe offer to do some shopping, drop anything they need to the hospital (clothes for child and them).

Sometimes people aren't used to accepting help, so you could say 'I'm heading to Tesco, can I pick you up a few basics? I'll drop them to your house and could pick up a few clothes to bring to the hospital while I'm there'.

Fingers crossed it's a false alarm though!

mcja

Her home is actually 100 miles away from the hospital and her other child is self sufficient, so she will be using us as a base until we know more.

couponqueen123

when my o/h was in hospital ,

my mum used to make lovely home made sandwiches with lovely fillings and make a flask of coffie for me

if she hadnt i wouldnt have eaten ,

so i think food to keep her going and a shower n "home " as n when she needs it would be great

if she staying with u at yr place could u give her a key to make her feel bit normal

mcja

Looks like I was thinking along the right lines then. A key goes without saying if she is using the house as a base, and open access to anything she might need whilst she's here as part of that.

Thankyou for the help. I can't imagine what she is going through, my daughter has a chest infection and mild pneumonia at the minute,and that has been a scary enough 24 hrs.

betsie

Just being there for her with a shoulder to cry on and a big hug when she needs it.

savingmummy

What a wonderful person you are!!


Going by how I am with this kind of thing I never feel like eating meals, so maybe snacks and bottled drinks for them to take with them.
And of course an ear and shoulder!
Sometimes you just don`t know what to say, but listening and comforting them is always better then replying at times.


Hope everything turns out ok x

mcja

Thanks. We have never been friends particularly (hubby's friend) but I just think that I would need someone there to help me if they could. I just didn't know what was the right thing to do.

Xx

savingmummy

We went through a very traumatic time with my DD a few years ago and we were beside ourselves with worry.
We had no offer of help or support and it made it even tougher.


My DH stayed with my daughter in hospital, and I came home to look after my DS but once he was in bed I was alone and my head was running overtime - I imagined alsorts happening.
I had no one to talk too and felt so alone and scared.


It is one of the worst feelings in the world when your child is sick, it actually hurts your chest with worry ;(


You being there is more then enough, I`m 100% certain she will always be very grateful x

mcja

Was your dd ok?

ERICS_MUM

a few physical comforts - a warm bed with hot water bottle if chilly, a back-rub to help her relax, run her a foam bath etc. An hour's break in Costa or Starbuck's with a full fat latte and gooey cake. Glossy magazine and bar of Galaxy for long waits in hospital waiting rooms.

Knowing when she needs company......and when she doesn't.

Fingers crossed for a good outcome, this disease is the devil's work and good people don't deserve it.