Family Matters

Description

A 10-year-old client with sickle cell disease comes into the clinic with his mother who is pregnant with another child. This 10-year-old boy has to get his blood work completed, as children with sickle cell disease need to get this done once a month. The nurse (Marek) asks the mother if she goes for yearly check-ups with a sickle cell anemia specialist. The mother tells you “I am too busy.” This concerns the nurse due to the harmful nature of the disease and the fact that the mother may not be properly educated about her child’s disease. You tell the mother you will have to inform Children’s Aid Society and she tells you that she cannot go to a specialist because the father of the child does not have the trait for sickle cell disease and that he does not know that her visits to the hospital are for her child’s treatment. The nurse knows that if the father does not have the trait for sickle cell disease then the child has no possibility of getting it. The nurse contacts Children’s Aid Society (Devin) to help with the case and she suggests telling the father the truth so he can help the child receive the care that he needs. A social worker from the hospital (Rhonda) helps the mother assess the situation, realize her options and support her pregnancy. A psychologist (Julia) is given the case to manage because the mother’s mental health is of utmost importance during her pregnancy and the child’s development is crucial during this stage of life. To help manage the child’s stress, medical condition and potential life changing situations an early childhood educator (Rachel) from the child’s school is informed of the situation and is active with the child.