Welcome to the Pediatric and Family Education section assembled by the Michigan Alliance for Pediatric Palliative Services (MAPPS). It's likely that you have found this section at a moment when you and your family are going through stressful times. The information in this section is here to meet your needs.

The subject matter contained here covers a wide area. Not all of it will apply to every family living with a seriously ill child. Some parts may be useful to you today, while others may have value to you at a later date. Some of it may not relate to your child or your family at all. The section is arranged so that you can find the information you want when you need it. You don't have to go through it all at once. You might want to start by looking for the topics most closely related to your own situation and follow where they lead.

The information contained here has been developed with families in mind, and is mainly addressed to parents. But the information it provides will be useful for grandparents and other relatives, as well as friends of a family with a seriously ill child. You can find guidance here if you...

• Want to be more involved in making decisions along with your child's healthcare team
• Are concerned about pain or other symptoms that doctors or nurses seem to be overlooking
• Think you are not getting all the information you need from the healthcare team
• Need help in understanding medical terms that might be confusing or frightening
• Have questions about what you want for your child's care and about what your child wants
• Are afraid that your child is dying or might die

Of all the things you need to know as you continue to find your way through difficult times, perhaps the most important is this: You are not alone. In addition to the family members, friends and health professionals you rely on for support, you can look to this information for help and guidance.