Mental Preparing Your Child for Liver Transplant

Medical Video: Patient Education: Living Donor Liver Transplantation

Liver transplantation can be a very frightening experience for you and your child. For successful recovery, you need to play an active role in supporting your child throughout this experience. This is important to ensure your child feels safe and secure. To do this, you must explain to them what happened in their body and what to expect after a liver transplant. The information and level of detail you explain to your child must be based on your child's age, level of development, and personality. C

Observe your child in the process. Sometimes when your child doesn't know anything, it will be more frightening and cause more anxiety that might hinder your child's recovery.

What children need to know before a liver transplant

For younger children, they need to know the following:

They are safe and protected and that you are physically there for them
What will happen and what can they do
That their condition can be controlled and treatment will work
General understanding of how their hearts work and why they don't work; The reason why their activities might be limited
That they can ask questions during the consultation, with your support if needed.

For older children, you should tell them:

That their illness does not change who they are
That they can control their condition by working with you and your doctor
Why are their conditions managed in that way and the long-term consequences of their actions
Puberty may change the symptoms of the disease and / or the medication they need
That you are on their side.

How to give mental support to children before a liver transplant?

Babies will not understand transplants but will benefit from the guarantees and support you give them at home and at the hospital. You have to keep holding them back. The warm sensation of your skin and the sound of your heartbeat are enough to tell that they are safe and protected.

Toddlers will be more verbal. They might even think that they did something bad to get the disease or surgery. Remind them that it is not their fault and you and your team of doctors will do their best to improve their hearts.

Sometimes you need to use simple pictures and words to explain medical topics. You can also play doctors at home to make them not afraid of nurses and doctors. It is important to talk about transplants openly so that it is not surprising when that happens. Making them feel comfortable about the subject will facilitate their collaboration if needed.

For children, you can avoid words that are too simple. They become more curious and focus in detail. Instead, you can use words like "sick," "healthy" and "good." It will also help to talk about what to expect after the transplant. For example, how they will feel, what will happen at home and how often they need to see a doctor to monitor their hearts. This discussion also increases trust between you and your child.

Teens are usually more independent and want to be more involved in their health. They are able to understand more complex concepts about their health conditions, including the risks and complications associated with liver transplantation. They will benefit more from your discussion and may have their own questions for the medical team. You must be by their side to give support. They need to know that you will always be there.

Mental Preparing Your Child for Liver Transplant

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