Childhood Leukemia

Abstract

TERMINAL illness makes a heavy impact upon all concerned, family and professionals. Particular effects of terminal illness and loss have been the subject of numerous studies.^{1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14} Lindemann⁸ points out that among adults the grief reaction is a syndrome with psychologic and somatic symptomatology, including somatic distress, a preoccupation with the image of the deceased, feelings of guilt, hostile reactions and the loss of previous patterns of conduct. How long the acute symptoms last seems to depend upon how quickly a person breaks his bonds with the one who has died, returns himself to his diminished human environment and forms new . . .