Conclusion
Caring for a child with a complex medical history can be a rewarding and exciting experience. Medical care providers are instrumental in not only managing the medical conditions, but also with assisting families in decision-making for the many aspects of life touched by a child's chronic condition(s). Focusing efforts to improving quality of life for the child and their family must be at the forefront of the medical team's efforts. Understanding the process of grief can help team members concentrate on the emotional needs of all involved parties, rather than becoming entangled in the face-value of the words or actions. Remembering the parent is often the child's expert can profoundly strengthen the physician-patient-family relationship.
