A plethora of content inundated my Google feed. When I specifically searched for “Patient education resources for family members,” I found an abundance of material to peruse, yet none precisely catered to my needs. Refining my search, I typed “Educating children of family members with chronic illnesses.” To my surprise, the generated content predominantly revolved around resources aimed at aiding families or parents in helping their children cope with chronic illnesses. Online searches yielded limited information about caring for an adult parent (not elderly) facing a chronic illness.
Although research exists on the physical, mental and social burdens that a family member’s chronic illness imposes on their children, there appears to be a dearth of studies regarding how a parent’s chronic illness impacts their relationship with their children, especially when the child lacks comprehension of the disease.2 It dawned on me that society often expects adults to navigate life’s challenges independently, neglecting family support. What a mistake!
Allow me to elaborate.
Children possess remarkable resilience, intelligence and boundless energy. They bring immense joy to the world and embody eternal optimism. In my view, they represent an untapped reservoir of potential. I find constant inspiration and encouragement in my children, particularly when facing challenges in my daily life.
The Flipbook Idea
With my search for patient materials ongoing, my son, Aryan, approached me one lazy Sunday afternoon to discuss ideas for his next science fair project. I allowed him to take the lead in our discussion and generate ideas. His recurring theme for this year’s project was to “effect meaningful change in patient care or understanding of a disease while ensuring accessibility and, of course, fun!” I felt invigorated.
Together, we explored how patient education could be made more accessible for children. This led us to brainstorm innovative ideas aimed at empowering family members of patients with the knowledge needed to comprehend their parents’ or grandparents’ illnesses and foster greater mindfulness and awareness. Thus, the concept of a flipbook was born.
Below is a narrative, in my son’s own words, detailing his project design, process and outcomes:
Aryan’s Story
I chose to do a science project on flipbooks because they are visually appealing to children of patients and because they are fun to make. I also wanted to help people cope with their condition by having their families help them. My question was, “Will flipbooks be an interesting resource to the family members and children of patients with arthritis and thereby increase awareness and help them?”
