ABSTRACT
Many children who have faced life-threatening illnesses have provided insights about their daily contacts with other people. They value certain styles of communication and interaction with others throughout their illness and often find specific expressive strategies to be effective tools for coping. This final chapter contains descriptions of qualities and techniques which caregivers may find helpful with other critically ill children. The techniques include creative and expressive opportunities such as guidedimagery activities used for stress and pain management, discussions, writing, and drawing. The personal qualities which were important to these children include trusting people to be truthful; feeling accepted in the moment, whether sick or playful, lighthearted or philosophical, practical or spiritual; and finally, living in an environment with hope (in an ongoing although changing form) and of love, both received and expressed.
