My uncle has had a brain tumour for the past 4 years, it is a very aggresive type and completely incurable. My two children (5 and 7) know my uncle, they're not really close but they've seen him, spoken to him, he gives them money/sweets etc when he see's them and plays with them and they do like him.
2 weeks ago he was taken into hospital, whilst in there he had a suspected stroke and has lost the feeling in his right arm and right leg as well as losing his speech, parts of his memory etc, after having a brain scan they found that the tumour has started to grow again and it's not looking good, we don't think he has long left , he's now bed ridden, confused, unable to walk, speak or even hold a cup...what do I tell the kids?
They had no idea he was ill at all, no idea about the brain tumour, they don't know he's in hispital, should I mention it to them? What I'm thinking is how do I tell them when something happens? they're going to want to know why a...what they see as a healthy 45 year old man suddenly died...my 7 year old is petrified of death at the best of times and if he thinks someone just dropped down dead he will be terrified that it will happen to him. If I tell them he's seriously ill they will be "prepared" in a way but then would I be worrying them unneccassarily? should I just wait until it happens?