Bereavement An annual supplement of The Monitor
MAY 31, 2018 • TrentonMonitor.com
When Hope Turns to Hospice
How not to shy away from offering support
Middletown couple uses first-hand experience to help pregnant couples cope with terminal diagnosis of babies
I
t is difficult enough to lose a child, but receiving a terminal diagnosis for your unborn child can result in an unprecedented sense of grief. Advancements in prenatal testing mean more families are dealing with the realization that their unborn child may not live long outside the womb, if at all.
Only recently have perinatal hospice and palliative care support groups been made available to help families navigate through this difficult time, providing medical, emotional and spiritual support, beginning with diagnosis and through the child’s death. Perinatal hospice is a model of care that begins during pregnancy and, along with palliative care, provides families with a compassionate means of celebrating the gift of their child and honoring their child’s life, however brief. Barbara Keith and her family know all too well how difficult that can be. Keith, a lifelong member of St. Mary Parish, Middletown, and her husband, Ian, were given the devastating news
The Value of Life
Barbara Keith and her husband, Ian, wear T-shirts from their nonprofit, Joan’s Reach, which provides educational materials and care packages to doctors to support families who receive difficult diagnoses in times of pregnancy. Photo courtesy of Barbara Keith
Keith admitted that the couple received little to no healthcare guidance once they decided to proceed with the pregnancy and birth. “Most healthcare providers we encountered had never heard of perinatal hospice care,” she said. “Some doctors seemed to minimize the value of our unborn baby’s life once she was diagnosed with a chromosome disorder that causes profound mental and physical challenges.” But the Keiths never wavered in their decision to see the pregnancy through. “Despite the initial shock of the diagnosis and the desire for the anguish to end, I knew that termination would not take away the pain, but only make it worse,” Keith said. “Once we heard about perinatal hospice, it felt like a big weight was lifted,” she continued. “We wanted to be able to be parents to our child. For us, that meant providing for her, even if it was only going to be for a short time.” Unfortunately, the baby died while Keith was in her ninth month of preg-
halfway through her pregnancy in 2011 that their unborn daughter had Trisomy 18, a rare chromosome disorder. The Keiths were told that their baby, Joan, would likely not survive and that perhaps they should consider an abortion. That was never an option, as the couple was determined “to continue to carry and care for Joan until her natural death in whatever time God decided,” Barbara Keith said.
Valeria Aksakova, Freepik photo
By Dubravka Kolumbic-Cortese, Correspondent
“I knew that termination would not take away the pain, but only make it worse.” nancy. She was induced and gave birth to Joan, giving the couple a chance to fulfill their wish of holding their daughter and seeing her face. It was cathartic for the Keiths, who also found a charitable organization that takes sensitive photos of infants in such situations. It was a way for them to create memories of their daughter, memories they could share with the two children they’ve since been blessed with. The missed memories are what make losing a child even more difficult, Keith said. “You’re not only grieving the loss of the person that’s close to you,” she said. “You’re grieving for all the memories you won’t get to have with them, all the different milestones you’ll miss.” Joan would have been seven this year. “By creating memories while I was pregnant with her, and creating memories when she was born, it gives us something to hold on to, just like you would rely on the memories of your other loved ones when they pass away,” Keith said. See Perinatal hospice • S3
It can be uncomfortable to broach the topic of a terminal diagnosis of an unborn child with the family. Barbara Keith offers the following advice for friends and families who don’t know what to say or do in such a situation. Parents who have recently received a life-limiting diagnosis for their unborn child will be devastated, grieving for the healthy baby they had hoped for, and will have difficulty absorbing information in a period of initial shock. Realize that parents who are continuing a pregnancy with a life-limiting diagnosis are not just distraught and struggling, but are also embracing the joy and love for their child. They likely want to be treated as you normally would and without pity. Realize that parents may be preparing for their baby’s birth and death at the same time. It is a time of complicated emotions. Don’t focus on just the diagnosis or loss. Sensitively ask about their baby, if they’ve chosen a name, how they are spending their precious time together, what their wishes are. Offer prayers and support. In many ways, it is not much different than caring for any terminally ill family member. Avoid platitudes. Though well-meaning, phrases like “God only gives you what you can handle” and “It’s God’s will” are typically not helpful or comforting to hear. Don’t shy away. The experience can be very isolating for parents. If you are not sure what to say or do, be honest. Reach out anyway. Just knowing you are in someone’s thoughts and prayers is comforting.
INSIDE:
Listening key to bereavement ministry … 2 First responder pens book on EMT career … 4 Young can understand death with adult guidance … 5 Pastoral care training sessions slated … 6