Ds2, 11, said he'd be better off dead when he came home from school today. I think he's overwhelmed by impending tests and surgery. He's having impressions taken by the orthodontist on Friday, 2 teeth out next week, a barium meal the week after that, and depending on the results he could be having some bowel removed (crohn's). He's also having a SALT assessment in mid December - he's dyspraxic.
I tried to get him to focus on how long he's felt well for since his crohn's diagnosis a year ago and that there will be times, hopefully shortlived, when he doesn't feel great and may need tests that are unpleasant, but the periods of wellbeing inbetween are something to be positive about.
I'm going to ring his IBD Nurse tomorrow to see if there is some kind of counselling service at the hospital. I'm not likely to hear back from her before next week, so on the off chance that someone else might have to deal with their child having these thoughts, I'm wondering how you deal with this.