worse for the parents, hard to imagine as the news that your child is terminally ill; that they must be in a near death accompany. With this pain and at the same time, the child, who now needs all the power of the mother and the father: That is an almost superhuman task.

As you can see, when it comes to your own child getting worse? And what decisions you should make, if it are, quite literally, the final questions? About how much therapy is Best for the child and when and how one should let go of?

The eyes still speak

The SRF-reporter Vanessa Nikisch, herself a mother, has in the framework of the series “The death – The last taboo” on these difficult issues daring. In the approximately 25-minute report presents three families. A young Couple, the lost his three-year-old son Liam 2018 to the leukemia. A family, whose oldest daughter, Ceren 13-year-old daughter, since the birth of the neuromuscular disease Pompe disease suffers and is now at home in bed may lie, respiration, voice, and motionless; only her eyes transmit messages to the environment. And the family of the 15-year-old Magali, who is suffering from Rasmussen’s encephalitis, in the meantime, a special school visited, and several times a day, epileptic absences suffers.

That such a Film does not affect only sensitive and painful issues, but also runs the risk of acting in a voyeuristic manner, is the filmmaker aware of how to request says. Only three weeks ago, it came to the Outcry, as in the SRF report program “Mona in the middle of” the camera on the Dying man in front of a Basel Migros toilet was kept.

But has spoken Nikisch in detail beforehand with the families. The pictures show the parents, speak with admirable Gefasstheit of your biggest Fears. The conversations are not staged as a Melodrama, but sensitively, without losing the hard reality wegzuretuschieren. We also see an everyday life with the children, in which there are also relaxing moments.

“What is the good life?”Eva mountain strässer, palliative care physician, with the parents of terminally ill children this question.

A wise decision by the filmmaker was to make again and again Eva mountain strässer, head of pediatric Palliative Care the children’s hospital of Zurich, come to word. Mountain strässer assisted families with the non-directly medical problems that can occur in the case of the deterioration of health. You try to get support agreements for the case of an emergency – for example: to revive or not? It is good that at least some of the hospitals in terms of personnel and procedure are technically prepared for such situations.

in Principle, the following applies: The parents decide. You know your child best. There are at the Zurich children’s hospital for consultations and a lot of time; decisions on the fly from the affect would be catastrophic, stresses mountain issued the following statement: The parents have to live the Rest of your life with your decision. Questions, the mountain gives, strässer you are, for example: “What is the good life? What you want to expect of your child? What do you think you can endure your child? What would it take for you evil, if it could speak?”

It count the beautiful moments

Simple answers may not be. The parents of Liam’s felt the irrepressible will to live and fighting spirit of the boys and flew in for a last therapy in the United States. Also, the parents of Ceren realize that she enjoys, for example, if you can be with the family on the Sunny balcony, and the mother caresses her tenderly on the head. It is important to have beautiful moments and collect beautiful memories. Liam’s parents also today, the old video films and photos.

The final passage of the film shows Megalis joyous birth celebration. This is a gift, says the mother. In the meantime, it had looked as if the girl would not live to see the birthday. Shortly after the shooting, an emergency had to work with Magali again moderately to the hospital, reported the voice from the Off.

“My child is terminally ill” is a Film that reminds you of the Hurt behind the facades of our society. And it is a tribute to these parents, to their great strength.

Created: 09.12.2019, 14:31 PM