When the child has cancer

University Hospital of Kuopio)

The system of care in Finland is organized very well and each one receive necessary cares, in any case if a serious disease is discovered. When one discovers that a child get cancer, the competence of the Healthy Centers, or Regional Hospital are insufficient, we need the better care and best techniques like an University Hospital can give.




The Timothée's case was a very serious one and the situation very critical, thus, he has needed quick examinations and efficaces cares. He was transferred to the University Hospital of Kuopio, located at approximately 273 miles from home. Arrived at the emergency, he has been at once brough in reanimation. The pediatrist in charge quickly evaluated the situation and Timothée was led in intensive care. All that passed very quickly, the minutes were counted. The care lavished in the intensive care department was really efficient. The patient was left at any time alone. High level technology, same as the nurses work, on technical level than human. Our child received all the care which was medically possible. Us, parents, have been taken in consideration and our wellbeing too. It has been setted up a room for us at proxemity of the hospital, the welfare worker helped us to organize the financial stuff, the hospital Priest came to discuss with us and the psychiatrist in charge also came into the department to our request and thereafter he remained at our service.

The doctors worked unceasingly and finally they were able to diagnos his disease.

Children Department of Cancerology - Entry

We were welcomed in the department of cancerology. There too, the care was given globally: physic, psychic, social, and spiritual were taken into account, as well for the child as for the parents. Timothée had referents nurses, who were devoted to him during all the time he stayed at the hospital. We were able to discuss with the social worker and she helped us in all practical questions. She directed also the discussion group of parents, which took place every week.

- Hallway

The pedo-psychiatrist and the art-therapeutist regularly came to see him. A very important person for Timothée, the hospital's Priest Olavi, with whom he also passed the time playing PlayStation's game or discussing Greek mythology.

The school was organized in the department. We received all necessary and desired information from the doctors and they were joignable in case of necessity. The devotion of the nurses were marvellous. If a child wanted chips and sausages at 10 o'clock in the evening they brought it to him.
We spent a lots of time together laughing and crying.

We think about them with thankfullness and affections and we bless them.

Timothée's drawing

Where to obtain assistance?

Difficult situation when your child is seriously sick. Nobody can envisage such an event for himself. The life was going on and it was maybe also a little monotonous. Many parents say that they miss this so simple, everyday life and that they would give anything to have it back. It's completely true. But unfortunately, even if the child cured, the life will never be the same.

For many families, the fact that a child falls sick generates also a financial problem. In general, the mother leaves her job to be with her child. The father also is lead to go away from his work, because it's too difficult for one parent to be alone in this situation. At the beginning, we'd had both a sick leave, but the crisis passed, the father has to go back to work at more than 270 miles. The weekend he came back to the hospital.

In the city of Kuopio, there are two flats offered by the Cancer Foundation of the department of Pohjois-Savo, where the parents can live when the child is at the hospital. These flats are free of charge for the parents. Its are dealt with by the National Case of Retirements (KELA).

KELA pays a compensation to the one of the parents for the loss of wages, and a compensation for seriously sick child (these last ones depends on the situation of the parents and must be made by a separate request.) The local council can also grant a help, for a relative who looks after the child at home.
The hospital expenses of a child of less than 16 years are paid by the council, but at the charge of the parents remain the first seven days in the year. If the parents have small wages they can send a request for assistances to the social office.
KELA refunds also the taxis and/or ambulances travels between the hospital and the residence. Cancerologics Associations of the area can give a small financial assistance.

The social worker of the department advises in all these steps and one's can contact KELA and the social office of the town.

Our support network

In addition to all these supports gotten by the society, it would be marvellous if each one had its own support network, but unfortunately it is not the case of all. We had a very solid network and we would like to thank each one personally, but it will be very difficult because it is question of many people all over the world.

Family, friends and church: When Timothée fell sick, the news it widespread very quickly, like a forest fire. Everywhere in Finland, in Europe and in the whole world, all the family, friends and acquaintances received the information in some way.

In churches all around the world, a combat by the prayer broke like a tidal wave. Even people whom we didn't know prayed for us. People who were not accustomed to go to the church started to go to the worship. Many said: "I don't know how to pray, in general I don't pray, but perhaps God will hear and heal this child."In large believing's assembling as in the homes many hands have been crossed when people prayed. Can we have greater support? We had the Heaven Army with us in this battle. And victories after victories were gained. Timothée has survived the periods of intensive care, a miracle. Timothée himself told us the fight which he has had against death, when he was under anaesthesia. There was full of victories, as for us parents who survived and remained in peace; "And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus." (Phil. 4:7). And we continued to believe and to hope.

Maybe a question arises in each one: "Why God didn't heal him? What was the meaning of all these?" It's like that we see it in our imperfect faith. All this was necessary to bring people to pray. One's never pray too much nor unnecessarily. When thounsands of people on earth pray, several at the same time, the Celestial Powers were moving and the enemy trembled. That is how God awakes us to fight by the prayer and He does it continuously, but we doesn't allways understand it. Why did Timothée not cured? We can't understand it, but God had his reasons. Parents, we know our child very well and we believe that he's happy in the Heaven. In this actual world, there are so much oppression, hatred and evil, which would have made him suffer and worries because of his sensitivity. God knows and doesn't make errors.

We also received various financial assistance by different gifts. My sister managed the curents stuff and our neighbours toke in charge our mail and came to water our plants. A sister of our church undertook to transmit informations and prayers requests.

Other parents: The best support was given by the parents of the other sick children. We encouraged ourselves each others and cried together in the difficult moments, but have been sincerely also be delighted by the positive moments.

His brothers: We can only imagine the distress and the anguish of his brothers, Eric and Jean-Paul, being so far away and enable to be with their little brother to comfort it. The only contact was by phone, Timothée was always glad to hear their encouraging voices.

Timothée's friends: Sarita, Tiina, Jaana and Elisa thought of him with their drawings, letters and prayers during all this time. The faith of these children carried Timothée over this terrible period.

Colleagues: The colleagues of the father were very understanding and flexible. They helped by all their means.

School: The teachers, the cook (Iita) and the lads stayed in contact and expressed their affection in several manners.

Social: The social worker of our town who dealt with our stuff, supported us also morally and came visiting us. We had a domestic help. Päivi brought deliciuos dishes and gave also a moral support.

Care at home: Each day, the nurse came at home to help us for the most difficult care. The relation with the nurses was warm, more particularly with Sinikka and Leila.

We felt privileged because we had so many friends. We learned to know God's love. It's through the person close to us that He appears.