300 Longwood Ave

Boston, MA 02115
http://www.childrenshospital.org/
Boston Childrens Hospital
Resources
LIVING
THROUGH
THE STRESS
Has your child been
diagnosed with a chronic
illness?
What is Chronic Illness?
Chronic illness is a life long
term or permanent medical
condition, that is rarely
curable
o Ex.- Asthma, Cystic Fibrosis,
Diabetes, Crohns Disease,
Sickle Cell Disease,
Epilepsy

Your child may alternate
between feeling well and
sick

A diagnosis affects the child
and familys usual daily
activities

With time, the new medical
needs will become part of
your new normal
Use your doctors and nurses as
primary resources

Diagnosis specific resources
available upon request

Useful Links
o http://www.childrenshos
pital.org/patient-
resources

o http://www.med.umich.
edu/yourchild/topics/ch
ronic.htm#familydo

o http://www.cyh.com/He
althTopics/HealthTopicD
etails.aspx?p=114&np=3
04&id=2578

1
ASK QUESTIONS
o No question is too small and
knowledge is power
CREATE A SOLID SUPPORT SYSTEM
o Find people you can lean to when
you need to talk, laugh or cry
ASK FOR AND ACCEPT HELP
o Tell people what would best help
you, food, gift cards, rides for other
children, this way you are in control
but are receiving the help you
need
MAKE A ROUTINE
o Routine provides a level stability
and predictability in a new and
sometimes scary environment

2
PLAN FAMILY TIME
o Even if your child is not feeling well,
plan an appropriate, fun activity
everyone will enjoy to promote
family bonding and a sense of
normalcy
SET ASIDE TIME FOR EACH
MEMBER OF THE FAMILY
o Siblings and spouses can get lost in
the shuffle of caring for a sick child,
even a quick trip to the grocery
store with one child can make a
difference
TALK OPENLY WITH EACH
MEMEMBER OF THE FAMILY
o Honesty builds trust and relieves the
stress of the unknown
What You Can Do to HELP Ease this Change
Ways Your Life
May CHANGE
More emotional stress
o A new diagnosis can trigger a wide
range of emotions from fear to
sadness
More time separated from your
family
o Increase in doctors visits and/or
hospital stays
More time spent providing
medical care and treatments to
your child
o Your child is finally getting the
treatment they need but this
increases your participation in their
care
More money devoted to medical
bills, medicine, travel costs, gas
o Increase in tests, procedures,
medications, and doctors visits all
which require payment
More information you are required
to know and understand
o You need to learn about your
childs specific diagnosis, how it
affects your child and the care and
treatments they will require




Reflective Note
For this project, I chose to develop a brochure directed at parents of children with a new diagnosis of a chronic
condition. The title Living through the Stress is meant to portray that there is an added stress with this diagnosis but you can
get through it. In the brochure, I included an overview of what a chronic illness is, how it may affect the families life, ways to
help decrease this change and resources for parents. These sections proceed in a building manner. First, the reader is told
what a chronic illness is, the next section explains a few ways this diagnosis may change their life and then they are provided
with ways to help this change. The pictures I chose represent a wide variety of chronically ill children with their families to show
the parents reading it that they are not alone and they can be happy just like these families. To make the brochure blend in
with Boston Childrens Hospital logo I chose to use cool blue colors.
The best way to develop good habits is to start them early, so I directed this brochure towards families with a new
diagnosis. These brochures could be made available in any of the clinics or floors in Boston Childrens Hospital because
chronic illnesses affect every body system and these brochures are not directed towards one specific diagnosis. For this
audience, I believe a brochure is the best informative option because it provides a quick read with lots of information. I didnt
put any in-text citations and chose to use a reference page as to not detract from the information in the brochure and to not
confuse families.













References
Adams, B. (Photographer). Couple Treats both children with Cystic Fibrosis and tries to raise money for event (Photograph) (2012) Retrieved June 3, 2014
from http://www.lehighvalleylive.com/nazareth/index.ssf/2012/05/upper_nazareth_township_couple.html
After Sons Death, Family Adopts Two Disabled Children (Photograph). (2012). Retrieved June 9, 2014 from
http://abcnews.go.com/topics/lifestyle/health/cerebral-palsy.htm?mediatype=Text
Boston Childrens Hospital Logo: Horizontal 72 dpi screen resolution (Logo). (n.d.) Retrieved June 7, 2014 from
http://www.childrenshospital.org/legal/brand-style-guidelines
Boyse, K & Laundy, J. (2012). Children with Chronic Conditions. Retrieved from http://www.med.umich.edu/yourchild/topics/chronic.htm#familydo
Build a strong family unit (Photograph). (2012). Retrieved June 9, 2014 from http://blogonvaal.com/2012/09/21/family-time/
Life with a Trach (Photograph). (2013). Retrieved June 3, 2014 from http://www.pediatrichomeservice.com/blog/tag/life-with-a-trach
Spina Bifida Information for Families (Photograph). (2011). Retrieved June 3, 2014 from http://www.cdc.gov/ncbddd/spinabifida/families.html
Womens and Childrens Health Network. (2012). Chronic childhood illness- managing the emotional impact. Retrieved from
http://www.cyh.com/HealthTopics/HealthTopicDetails.aspx?p=114&np=304&id=2578