15 Ways You Can Help If You Know Someone Whose Child Is Sick

Everyone feels bad when they hear about your child’s diagnosis.

“Let me know how I can help,” they say.

Honestly, they might not know how to help, and you may not know how they can help either. Here are some ideas you can share with them.

1. Give hugs, and often!

2. Leave some space. Let us vent without recourse. We need support.

3. Understand when we can’t make a scheduled event. Emergencies come up, so please know we would be there if we could!

4. Offer to take care of our other kids, or get them out of the hospital for a walk or meal.

5. Believe us when we talk about our child’s health concerns. It can be confusing to explain and to understand.

6. Offer to do errands if you can, whether in-person or online.

7. Bring a meal. Bring something that can be frozen if dinner is already planned. Having extra meals on hand is a lifesaver!

8. Better yet, organize meals with neighbors, family and friends.

9. Offer to watch our other children if you know we have an appointment coming up.

10. Ask us about our child when you see us. It may not be easy to listen to the challenges and difficulties, but it will help to know someone cares.

11. Offer to drive our other children to activities, especially if our children take part in the same things.

12. Continue to invite us to things, and try and be considerate of our child’s needs, especially if they have food allergies. Ask questions about the food allergy. If we have a get-together and want to keep the allergen out of the house, please don’t bring it with you.

13. Send flowers, a card, a text or a phone call.

14. Keep listening as the years go by. Having a child who has health issues can be exhausting and lonely.

15. Most importantly, try and show us unconditional love and caring. We need you and other supportive family and friends in our lives.