Clinging to My Child: Mothers’ Experiences Taking Care of a Child Hospitalized with Leukemia

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to investigate, within the sociocultural context of Korea, mothers’ experiences caring for their child being treated in a hospital for leukemia. Study participants included 11 mothers who visited a hospital for their child’s follow-up care after treatment for leukemia. The researchers investigated the mothers’ experiences in caring for their children using a qualitative study design. Through interviews, the researchers identified five categories of experiences among participants, including, “Death anxiety,” “Feeling guilty,” “Fulfilling responsibilities as a mom,” “Feeling overwhelmed by life,” and “Feeling grateful.” In the course of treatment, mothers tended to feel pressured to be a good mother, and sometimes felt overwhelmed by life. Healthcare providers need to grasp the difficulties faced by mothers taking care of their children hospitalized for treatment of leukemia, and must develop programs to reduce the burden on mothers and increase their families’ functioning.