Child suffered a serious illness

[BecaM]

Hi,
I'm new to Mumsnet. A year ago my daughter (now two and a half) suffered a serious illness. She got pneumonia which caused serious complications and nearly died.
Thankfully (and I will forever be indebted to the medical team in the Paediatric Intensive Care Unit) she made a full recovery and is doing brilliantly.
However I still get flashbacks of what we saw and the horror we went through. I just wondered if anybody else had experienced a similar thing?
I just feel so thankful that she is here today.

[MigGril]

Not personally but I have a close friend who's daughter when 3 had a very serious accident. She had to have CPR and then months of rehabilitation.

Thankfully now at 8 you would never know she made a full recovery. And her daughter doesn't seem to remember much of it. But my friend says she still gets flash backs to that day when it happened and when she was in hospital.

I think that's normal something tromatic happened to someone you care about a great deal. Have you talk to anyone about it even just friends?

[corythatwas]

Yes, I have. It will pass eventually.

[BecaM]

Thank you very much for your replies. I'd love to talk to somebody else who has been through a similar thing/

[KatyN]

My son had a collapsed lung at birth and spent time in nicu. He then saw a consultant for 2 years. It took at least a year to stop reliving it, and having a second child really effected me. I don't think you 'forget' something like that. It gets easier. Also as they get older you also have to talk about it less- so we moved doctors when my son was 3 and it is not the first thing they ask anymore. Today I saw his running down the path and realised that his physical development is just the same as his peers finally.
It's tough though, hope th flashbacks improve for you. Kx

[lougle]

It's very common. Have you had counselling? You may find that there is a 'survivor group' you could join. I know there are survivor groups for our ICU patients who come out the other side. It really is a huge ordeal and the effects can be life long.

[TheEmmaDilemma]

Look for some counselling. I was on the other end of that scenario and watched family not cope well even after I was better.

I've always considered training in counselling to help ICU survivors.

lougle it's comforting to hear that is available now. It would have benefited me.

[BecaM]

Thank you so muc for your lovely supportive replies everyone x I am very grateful. I have Googled support groups a few times but haven't found anything yet. I will keep looking. Thank you again

[BombadierFritz]

Have you read about post traumatic stress? There are specific types of counselling that are good if you have intrusive memories that are almost the same emotions you had when your dd was ill - to help you process those memories and move on. If you look for a counsellor that deals with ptsd (i am not saying you have this tho) then they can use these techniques. It does get better with time - a year is not long since her illness. What you are experiencing is a really normal reaction