Let's talk about palliative care for children to live the last days of their lives without pain.

We all love our children very much. How much do we fear even a small cold from them? Well, imagine if the doctor told us that your child has a disease like cancer that is difficult to cure... none of us like to hear that. But sometimes in life we ​​have to face such harsh, harsh realities. Today we are talking about a topic that is difficult to make up our minds about, but we must talk about it. That is, how can we make the rest of the life of a child suffering from an incurable disease as painless and comfortable as possible.

This story is about a young boy named Gabriel. He spent the last summer of his life like any other young boy. He hung out with his friends, went camping, and scared his parents by doing things like skydiving. Then, later that year, he took his own life.

Gabriel's death was not a surprise. He had been battling death all summer. After being diagnosed with acute lymphocytic leukemia at age 7, Gabriel had undergone two rounds of chemotherapy and radiation therapy by the time he was 15. But none of that was enough to control the cancer. A few months later, the cancer returned.

A bone marrow transplant was performed as a last resort. But when that failed and the cancer returned, all hope of a complete cure was lost. In an era of advanced medical science where three out of four children with cancer can be cured, Gabriel's doctors and parents had one painful but humble goal.

But Gabriel lived longer and happier than anyone expected. For five months, he jet-skied, jumped from the sky, and played with his dog. Eventually, his weakened immune system failed to fight off a severe fungal infection.

What is Palliative Care?

Events like Gabriel's have brought the world's attention to the importance of palliative care for children. Simply put, palliative care is the treatment and care provided to reduce the suffering and pain of someone with a terminal illness and improve their quality of life .

This is not about trying to cure the disease. Instead, it is about controlling the symptoms caused by the disease (such as pain, difficulty breathing, nausea), providing emotional comfort to the child, and helping them to spend the remaining time as comfortably and happily as possible.

Why is this so hard to even talk about?

Often, it is difficult for doctors and parents to even think about palliative care . The main reason for this is the wrong attitude that "going to palliative care means we have given up the fight."

Research has found that doctors realize the reality that "this child cannot be cured" about three months before the parents. But it's very difficult to tell the parents that, to prepare them for it. Because everyone has hope for a cure in their hearts.

Today, 75% of children with cancer can be cured. That is a huge achievement. Because of this, doctors are completely focused on curative treatment . Therefore, less attention is paid to what to do in cases where a cure is not possible.

But the truth is, children dying from cancer suffer greatly in the last months of their lives from severe symptoms such as severe pain, shortness of breath , extreme fatigue, and nausea . These can be largely controlled with palliative care.

What is actually done in palliative care?

Palliative care is not one thing. It is a broad approach that combines many different things. What is happening here is providing comfort to the child, both physically and mentally.

Support for parents

This is a very difficult time for both the child and the parents. It is not easy to accept that "your child cannot be cured." Psychosocial workers can help parents accept this harsh truth. Research has even proven that parents are more likely to understand reality when they talk to such counselors than when they talk to doctors alone.

In Gabriel's story, during his last two weeks, he had a hospice nurse who came to his home. He was given a small device that he could use to inject himself with painkillers (Fentanyl) whenever he wanted. He even donated blood at home. All of this allowed Gabriel to spend his last days in his own home, without pain, with his family.

Eventually, Gabriel gradually weakened, stopped eating, and regained consciousness. Although it was a heartbreaking time, his father describes the death as "easy, peaceful." One afternoon, while reclining on the sofa, Gabriel held his father's hand and closed his eyes forever.

That night, Gabriel's sister had a dream about her brother.

"Is it easy to die?" she asked.

"Yes, it's as easy as breathing," he replied. "It feels so good to be able to walk again."

Palliative care, cancer, children's health, pain management, end of life, palliative care, cancer in children