Surmavalt haiged lapsed räägivad, mida nad oma elus kõige rohkem hindavad

Illustratiivne foto: Freepik

Lõuna-Aafrika vabariigi lastearst Alastair McAlpine võttis ette emotsionaalselt raske, kuid tänuväärse projekti: ta küsis surmavalt haigete, palliatiivsel ravil olevate laste käest, mida nad oma elus kõige rohkem hinnanud on.

Mitte ükski laps ei öelnud, et ta oleks tahtnud oma elu jooksul rohkem televiisorit vaadata, sotsiaalmeediat kasutada, tülitseda või haiglaseinte vahel viibida.

Mitmed lapsed nimetasid esmajoones oma lemmikloomaga veedetud aega, öeldeks näiteks: "Ma armastan Rufust, tema naljakas haukumine ajab mind naerma," või: "Mulle meeldib, kui Ginny ronib öösel mulle kaissu ja nurrub." 

Kõik lapsed märkisid, et nad armastasid jäätist, ning kõik lapsed ütlesid, et nad armastasid lugusid kuulata - eriti seda, kui vanemad lugesid neile raamatuid ette. Lapsed nimetasid oma lemmiktegevusena elus ka rannas ja ujumas käimist. "Isegi mu silmad ei valutanud siis," ütles üks. Lapsed armastavad väga oma mänguasju ja lemmikuid karaktereid. 

Mitmed lapsed hindasid oma elus inimsuhteid, mis ei muutunud haiguse tõttu. "Mu tõelised sõbrad ei hoolinud, kui mul juuksed ära kukkusid," ütles üks. "Jane tuli mulle pärast operatsiooni külla, ja ta ei pannud seda haava isegi tähele," sõnas teine. Pea kõik lapsed hindasid inimeste omadustest enim just lahkust. Näiteks ütlesid lapsed: "Minu vanaema on minu vastu nii hea. Ta ajab mind alati naerma," "Jonny andis mulle pool oma võileivast, kui ma enda oma ei söönud. See oli väga kena," ja "Mulle meeldib, kui see sõbralik õde on siin. Ta on nii lahke. Siis on vähem valus." 

Pea kõik lapsed mainisid naljatlemist ja naermist. On ju teada, et naer vähendab tõepoolest valu. "See mustkunstnik on nii totakas! Tema püksid kukkusid alla ja ma ei saanud naermist lõpetada!" "Minu issi teeb naljakaid nägusid, ma armastan seda!" "Minu kõrvalvoodi poiss tegi puuksu! Haha!" 

Õppetund? Ole teiste inimeste vastu sõbralik ja lahke. Loe rohkem raamatuid. Veeda oma perega aega. Minge randa. Visake nalja. Kallista oma koera. Ütle nendele erilistele inimestele oma elus, et armastad neid. Ja naudi jäätist! Need on asjad, mida oleksid oma elus soovinud rohkem teha lapsed, kellele pole kingitud võimalust täiskasvanuks saada. 

Originaalsissekanded Twitteris inglise keeles:

For an assignment, I asked some of my terminal paediatric palliative care patients what they had enjoyed in life, and what gave it meaning. Kids can be so wise, y'know. Here are some of the responses (Thread).

— Alastair McAlpine (@AlastairMcA30) February 1, 2018

First:
NONE said they wished they'd watched more TV
NONE said they should've spent more time on Face Book
NONE said they enjoyed fighting with others
NONE enjoyed hospital
/1

— Alastair McAlpine (@AlastairMcA30) February 1, 2018

MANY mentioned their pets:
'I love Rufus, his funny bark makes me laugh.'
'I love when Ginny snuggles up to me at night and purrs'
'I was happiest riding Jake on the beach.'
/2

— Alastair McAlpine (@AlastairMcA30) February 1, 2018

MANY mentioned their parents, often expressing worry or concern:
'Hope mum will be ok. She seems sad.'
'Dad mustn't worry. He'll see me again soon.'
'God will take care of my mum and dad when I'm gone'
/3

— Alastair McAlpine (@AlastairMcA30) February 1, 2018

ALL of them loved ice-cream.
/4

— Alastair McAlpine (@AlastairMcA30) February 1, 2018

ALL of them loved books or being told stories, especially by their parents:
'Harry Potter made me feel brave.'
'I love stories in space!'
'I want to be a great detective like Sherlock Holmes when I'm better!'

Folks, read to your kids! They love it. /5

— Alastair McAlpine (@AlastairMcA30) February 1, 2018

MANY wished they had spent less time worrying about what others thought of them, and valued people who just treated them 'normally'.
'My real friends didn't care when my hair fell out.'
'Jane came to visit after the surgery and didn't even notice the scar!' /6

— Alastair McAlpine (@AlastairMcA30) February 1, 2018

Many of them loved swimming, and the beach.
'I made big sandcastles!'
'Being in the sea with the waves was so exciting! My eyes didn't even hurt!' /7

— Alastair McAlpine (@AlastairMcA30) February 1, 2018

Almost ALL of them valued kindness above most other virtues:
'My granny is so kind to me. She always makes me smile.'
'Jonny gave me half his sandwich when I didn't eat mine. That was nice.'
'I like it when that kind nurse is here. She's gentle. And it hurts less' /8

— Alastair McAlpine (@AlastairMcA30) February 1, 2018

Almost ALL of them loved people who made them laugh:
'That magician is so silly! His pants fell down and I couldn't stop laughing!'
'My daddy pulls funny faces which I just love!'
'The boy in the next bed farted! Hahaha!'

Laughter relieves pain. /9

— Alastair McAlpine (@AlastairMcA30) February 1, 2018

Kids love their toys, and their superheroes.
'My Princess Sophia doll is my favourite!'
'I love Batman!' (All the boys love Batman)
'I like cuddling my teddy' /10

— Alastair McAlpine (@AlastairMcA30) February 1, 2018

Finally, they ALL valued time with their family. Nothing was more important.
'Mum and dad are the best!'
'My sister always hugs me tight'
'No one loves me like mummy loves me!' /11

— Alastair McAlpine (@AlastairMcA30) February 1, 2018

Take home message:
Be kind. Read more books. Spend time with your family. Crack jokes. Go to the beach. Hug your dog. Tell that special person you love them.

These are the things these kids wished they could've done more. The rest is details.

Oh... and eat ice-cream. /End

— Alastair McAlpine (@AlastairMcA30) February 1, 2018

Küsi oma lapse käest juba täna: mida sa kõige rohkem armastad, nida sa tahaksid oma elus rohkem teha? Ning tehke seda!