The heaviest burdens and life’s most intense fulfilment: A retrospective and re-understanding of my experiences with childhood liver disease and transplantation

Savage, Sophie

Abstract

This chapter presents a personal reflection on my childhood with liver disease, including thoughts on going to school with chronic illness, my family and undergoing transplantation.

The chapter is presented under the framework set out at the beginning of the chapter regarding burdens as fuel, and under that framework is a narrative retelling of childhood illness and new understandings of those experiences through reflection and consultation with literature.

Changes suggested include more engagement between medical and educational staff that work with children and their families who have chronic illnesses and better training for teachers who have chronically unwell pupils, so they are prepared to support them appropriately. Much lower tolerance in schools for any sort of bullying and effective protocols for dealing with bullying are also suggested.

Citation

Savage, S. (2018). The heaviest burdens and life’s most intense fulfilment: A retrospective and re-understanding of my experiences with childhood liver disease and transplantation. In K. Runswick-Cole, T. Curran, & K. Liddiard (Eds.), The Palgrave Handbook of Disabled Children's Childhood Studies (41-56). Palgrave Macmillan UK. https://doi.org/10.1057/978-1-137-54446-9

• Online Publication Date: Nov 8, 2017
• Publication Date: Jan 1, 2018
• Deposit Date: Oct 12, 2020
• Pages: 41-56
• Book Title: The Palgrave Handbook of Disabled Children's Childhood Studies
• ISBN: 9781137544452
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1057/978-1-137-54446-9
• Public URL: https://uwe-repository.worktribe.com/output/6775180
• Publisher URL: https://www.palgrave.com/gp/book/9781137544452