Supporting Siblings of Terminally Ill Children

Looking back, Georgina remembers when she caught a virus and thought nothing of it but when Sophia, her four year old daughter, caught it, she suffered, “ten times worse.”

At first doctors didn’t know what was wrong with Sophia, considering it might be malaria or sickle cell syndrome before finally diagnosing her with leukaemia. The gravity of the situation only hit Georgia seven months later, when she hit rock bottom. “I was just trying to deal with life hour by hour, let alone day by day. I think the mind protects itself and goes into shock so you do what you have to, you do what you’re told.”

Sophia went through almost three years of treatment but looking at her now, you’d never think that this bright and bubbly little girl was ever so very ill. Her mum still remembers how Rainbow Trust Children’s Charity helped her through. “I had no idea there was that sort of help out there. They were so practical and helpful.”

Monica, one of our Family Support Workers, fetched Francesca from school so that she didn’t have to miss out on her education. If she hadn’t been there to help, Sophia’s illness would have had a detrimental effect on Francesca too and Georgina didn’t want to burden her by having her miss out on nursery. Knowing that Francesca was being collected and safe took some of the stress off of her mum’s shoulders. I felt safe leaving my child with Monica, I trusted her to take care of Francesca and I knew she was very fond of her.”

A parent of a child with a terminal or life threatening illness is naturally overwhelmed with the sudden changes that the illness brings into their daily life. Rainbow Trust’s Family Support Workers understand. “Monica knew what was needed, she anticipated what I was going through and when and she helped me manage it all. It was hard to believe that there was an organisation out there that could help with things like that.” That practical help relieves so much stress in an emotionally charged situation and parents often tell us that the relief is overwhelming.

Rainbow Trust’s Family Support Workers work with all the family, supporting them in whatever way they need. Donations make this possible for over 2,300 families and their seriously ill child so we’re grateful for each and every donation we receive.