Kids under pressure: When a parent falls ill

When a parent is struck by a serious medical event, it affects the entire family, including children. It can be difficult to know what to do in these situations, and how to best support children going through this difficult and stressful situation. 

In this episode, Stephan Maighan shares his story of loss and perseverance after his single mother experienced a stroke when he was just seven years old. We also hear from Émilie Pothier-Tessier, a social worker who works with children who are experiencing the serious illness or death of a parent. She walks us through different ways to help children in these situations, from sharing information to professional support. Both Stephan and Emilie hope to educate listeners on the needs of children whose parents have been affected by serious illness, and remind us that children deserve to have the same support we extend to adults. 

If you’d like more information on heart disease or stroke, please go to heart and stroke dot ca and enter support in the search bar.