Abstract

SILVA, Patricia Karla de Souza e  and  MELO, Symone Fernandes de. Maternal experience of loss of a child with cancer: a phenomenological study. Rev. abordagem gestalt. [online]. 2013, vol.19, n.2, pp. 147-156. ISSN 1809-6867.

The death of a child due to cancer reflects a premature end of life and can cause strong repercussions to the mother who is the one that usually takes most responsibility during child's treatment. Recognizing the importance of the topic, this research seeks to understand the experience of a mother who experienced the loss of a child due to cancer. This is a qualitative, phenomenological research that uses a method called "narrative", which consists in a semi-structured interview. The research is set up as a case study, with the participation of one mother and was developed in a non-governmental organization that supports children with cancer, located in the city of Natal-RN. The proposed analysis is based Heideggerian hermeneutics. This study pointed to three themes: previous history, childhood illness and its repercussions; the network of support and care, and the loss and afterwards: coping and meaning. It is concluded that the experience of child cancer allows each mother to face ontological sense of human helplessness, mobilizing change and that the guarantee of care during the illness and loss of their sons, favors an authentic experience of mourning and the opening for new possibilities in their lives.

Keywords : Childhood cancer; Death; Motherly mourn; Phenomenology; Existential analytic.

        · abstract in Portuguese | Spanish     · text in Portuguese     · Portuguese ( pdf )