Siblings as relatives in focus at SUS

The Løvemammaene were invited to give a lecture about siblings as relatives and children who have lost a sibling after a long-term illness at a professional day for employees at Stavanger University Hospital.

It was a member of Carry together, Janne Fjelde Thu, and chairman Bettina Lindgren who participated on behalf of the Løvemammaene this day, through our child palliation project Carry together.

Janne and Bettina shared both personal experiences, thoughts and wishes from healthcare personnel when meeting with siblings who are next of kin, as well as perspectives and aspects of a very different and demanding everyday life that are important for healthcare personnel to know when meeting with lion families. They talked about everything from guilty consciences, the emotional spectrum of siblings and the importance of "first aid" to the families first. Because without good and safe services around the sick child in the home, all other help for the sibling will have little effect anyway.

In conclusion, Janne shared movingly and powerfully about the terminal phase and the good care at the hospital in Lucas' last days, and the time that awaited them afterwards. Janne highlighted the needs of the support system in meeting with siblings when a life-threatening/life-shortening illness is a fact, and that many parents may be unsure of how little or how much sibling inclusion they should arrange for both in connection with the time around death and the time afterwards. Here, it is important that the children's palliative care team is contacted for guidance and support as early as possible.

Siblings as relatives is an important topic and area of expertise, and Løvemammaene greatly appreciates that SUS also includes the perspective of relatives when they conduct professional days for their employees. We thank you for letting us come! The Løvemammaene will hold this lecture on four professional days during October/November, which we are very much looking forward to.

Does your workplace also want lectures from Løvemammaene? read more here.