A liver transplant can save your child’s life. You may feel hopeful or relieved when you think about your child having surgery. You may also have emotions like anger or sadness.
The link between pediatric transplants and mental health hasn’t always been clear. But it’s common to need help during this time. Emotional support during pediatric transplants helps many families.
Taking care of your mental health and working through your feelings is vital at every age. Your pediatric liver transplant team supports you in making healthy choices for your body and mind. These experts are there for you and your family at every step.
Taking Care of Your Emotional Health When Your Child Needs Liver Transplant
The liver transplant process can be hard on parents and loved ones. You may wonder how best to support your child. You may also be juggling the demands of work, social life, and caring for other kids.
You may not know how long it will take for your child to get a new liver. Family life may feel put on hold while you and your child wait. It’s easy to ignore your needs as you focus on your child’s health.
All these feelings are valid. And your feelings may change from day to day. It’s crucial to take steps to understand and deal with these feelings.
Acknowledge all your feelings
Sometimes, you may feel joyful thinking about life after your child’s transplant. On others, you may feel scared about caring for your child after transplant. Sometimes, you’ll have many feelings on the same day.
You may feel:
- Anger or bitterness.
- Anxiety or depression.
- Feelings of guilt or hopelessness.
- Irritability or sadness.
- Uncertainty or overwhelm.
Avoid “self-medicating” in unhealthy ways
Powerful emotions may tempt you to turn to alcohol or drugs. You may behave in ways that aren’t healthy as you seek relief from your feelings. Taking care of your emotional health helps you manage the stress you feel.
Get support
Talking about what you’re going through with someone who has been there can help. A parent support group puts you in touch with other families who’ve been through the process. Your transplant team can help you find a support group nearby.
Protecting Children’s Emotional Health
Kids who have liver transplants — and their siblings — have many feelings. These may differ based on how old your kids are. Your child may feel:
- Concern that they or their sibling won’t be OK.
- Confusion about why they’re in a hospital and can’t go home.
- Fear of strangers they meet at the transplant center.
- Sad that they can’t see friends, go to school, or take part in their favorite activities.
- Worry that their transplant makes you and other family members sad or afraid.
- Worry about what life will be like after the transplant.
Your kids don’t have to deal with these feelings alone. Your team includes professionals who can help your child work through their emotions.
Emotional Support for Your Whole Family
Taking support may feel hard when you’re used to taking care of everything yourself. But the stresses of a liver transplant can affect your family for a long time.
Your transplant center experts help families work through their feelings before, during, and after surgery. They teach you and your kids healthy ways to manage stress. They also support you in accepting changes to your family’s lifestyle.
Transplant team members who offer emotional support include:
Pediatric transplant coordinator
Your pediatric transplant coordinator is with you and your family at every step. They can:
- Act as a link between you and your child’s doctors and other experts.
- Connect you with resources you may need at the transplant center and after your child goes home.
- Give you information about your child’s health issues.
- Answer your questions.
Child life specialist
A child life specialist helps your whole family get ready for transplant surgery. They get to know your child and develop a support plan based on their age and needs. Your child life specialist:
- Helps your child feel less afraid during medical procedures.
- Offers play activities that help your child work through their feelings.
- Teaches your child strategies to manage stress and anxiety.
Psychologist
A psychologist is a mental health worker who meets with you and your child. They help you talk about your feelings before and after a liver transplant. Your psychologist:
- Finds support services that may help you, your child, and your family.
- Helps you name and process your feelings.
- Manages mental health issues that may develop, such as anxiety or depression.
- Works with your doctor to prescribe medicine when needed.
Social worker
Pediatric transplant involves many visits and a lot of paperwork. A social worker helps ease the burden on your family. Your social worker:
- Plans transportation and lodging for your family if you must travel to the transplant center.
- Connects you with counseling services and peer support groups.
- Helps with managing calls and paperwork with doctors and your insurance company.
Emotional Support After Pediatric Liver Transplant
Ongoing emotional support can help your family adjust to life after surgery. Your transplant team helps you know what life will be like. They help you prepare for changes in your child’s routine.
Your child will need long-term care after a transplant. They must:
- Eat a healthy diet that supports their liver health.
- Have regular exams and testing to make sure their new liver works as it should.
- Take anti-rejection drugs to help their body accept the new liver.
While your child’s physical health after surgery is critical, so is their emotional health. They may worry that the transplant will make them different from their friends. They may fear that their new liver will fail, and they’ll be sick again.
You may have some of these same worries. Even when surgery goes well, it’s normal to feel anxiety after.
Talk to your transplant team about your feelings. Your pediatric transplant center‘s mental health experts are there to give your family the emotional support it needs.