Resources
By My Side: Stories from parents whose child has died from cancer
People learn to walk with their pain because if they talk about it, or if they try to be part of it everyone else abandons them
In this 3-minute video, we hear the experiences, feelings and opinions of bereaved parents who participated in a research study. The video has also been translated into Mandarin, Cantonese, Arabic, Italian and Greek.
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I still see myself as a mother, I always thought that now my role as a mum is to make sure our son isn’t forgotten and to do things in his memory
By My Side: Stories from parents whose child has died from cancer is both a book and short video created for bereaved parents. You can order the book free of charge by below or by contacting us.
This book of quotes was produced by Redkite in partnership with Dr Leigh Donovan – a clinician, researcher and advocate in paediatric palliative care and loss, grief and bereavement.
Over 100 parents participated in a research study (2012-2016) where they generously shared the story of their child’s cancer experience, end of life and family’s journey into bereavement. The quotes and images in both the video and book represent the experience of these parents; they may not be representative of all bereaved parents.
By My Side aims to shine a light on the experience of living without your child. Many bereaved parents speak of deep loneliness. The guidance and insight in these quotes may also be helpful for the family and friends supporting bereaved parents.
Order a copy of By My Side, free of charge
Ok, get up, get dressed, that’s what we’ll do, that was our only aim. It gave us something to focus on, something to achieve.
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Related resources
Childhood cancer: A mother’s perspective
What happens to mothers when their child is diagnosed with cancer? While each story is different, below we’ve outlined some common experiences mothers can face throughout their child’s cancer experience.
Childhood cancer: A mother’s perspective
What happens to mothers when their child is diagnosed with cancer? While each story is different, below we’ve outlined some common experiences mothers can face throughout their child’s cancer experience.
Telling people your child has cancer
Talking about cancer can be daunting. You may have fears about how people will react, and voicing it can make it feel more real somehow
Telling people your child has cancer
Talking about cancer can be daunting. You may have fears about how people will react, and voicing it can make it feel more real somehow
Other childhood cancer support services
A list of childhood cancer support services in Australia
Other childhood cancer support services
A list of childhood cancer support services in Australia
Managing family relationships
Going through cancer treatment can lead to some very positive experiences in relationships, but the stress can also cause immense strain.
Managing family relationships
Going through cancer treatment can lead to some very positive experiences in relationships, but the stress can also cause immense strain.
