Laparoscopic Total Colectomy & Ileoanal Pullthrough Coping for
parents Learning how to cope is easiest when parents, children,
and health care professional work together as a team. Child Life
Specialists are available to help reduce any fears surrounding
this experience. Reason with your child appropriate to their
stage of development. If your son or daughter has questions,
always answer them honestly so they will be prepared for what
will happen. Children often sense when their parents, doctors,
or nurses are hiding something from them. Decide appropriate
"advance notice" time. Some children prefer to know well ahead
of time what's coming, and some do better knowing closer to the
time of the event (for example, when a tube is going to be
removed). You know your child better than anyone. Keep in mind
that giving them too much advanced notice of events may make
them unable to focus on anything else. Many parents prefer to
share information when medical team members are present. If your
child is a teenager and