New board idea - children with health conditions

[Somuchgoo]

So there's general children's health, but that's pretty busy with posts about children with chicken pox, colds, childhood illnesses etc. Then theres the life limiting illnesses section, which includes both posters and their children with life limiting illnesses. There's also a children's mental health section, and a SEN section, but theres nothing for parents of children with serious physical health conditions.

I'm suggesting that a new board be set up for this.

For parents whose kids have got cancer, chronic health conditions, genetic conditions, epilepsy, that are on oxygen or tube fed, or stomas etc. Just a place we can talk, get support from eachother etc.

What do people think?

There's a genetic conditions board and a general special needs board on which many parents have discussed tube feeding etc. it might be better in a way to direct those with "just" neurodiversity away from the general board because it often dominates (I have a dd with asd and seizures though, cross over!)

The SM children board is so much used for neurodiversity that is barely used for anything else. I've felt in the past that it would be the wrong place to post because of that.

There is absolutely crossover (and I suspect I'll end up in the crossover category eventually).

My child has a brain tumour. An area to share scan anxiety, worries about surgeries, supporting the family's mental health etc, is kind of what I'm thinking about from my perspective. I could get specific help with specific queries, but supoort from other parents that are going through tricky times with their child's health...

I mean, there's literally a board to discuss the weather on here.

Maybe the SN board is the place, but how does it become a place where those parents like me actually feel its for us?

Hi OP

Thanks so much for suggesting this - it's a great idea and we completely understand why you'd want a dedicated topic.

We will watch this thread and if there's enough interest (we know it will get used), we will have a chat about opening it.

and lots of love to you and your DC,
MNHQ

There are posters on the SN boards with DC who have chronic health conditions, physical disabilities, genetic conditions, epilepsy, enteral feeds. Under another name I used to post on long running tube feeding support threads, but posters moved on. There used to be a long running children’s cancer thread on children’s health, but again that fizzled out.

I think you solve this by posters posting more rather than another board. Not posting on the SN boards because posts about neurodiversity are more prevalent is a somewhat self fulfilling prophecy.

Besides there are many things (benefits, education matters, DFG) that apply to all types of additional needs and by separating the boards you would lose some potentially good advice as some posters wouldn’t post on both boards.

I would be up for a board about health conditions. My 9 year old has cleft lip/palate, ventriculomegaly and toe walking as well as hearing loss and moderate learning difficulties.

I would be interested. I love mumsnet usually but am not finding the right people at the moment.