The mother standing the unexpected loss of a child – a phenomenological discussion

Abstract

Introduction: The experience of a young child’s loss repercuts on the whole family unit, specially for the mother figure, who does not expect that will have to deal with the death of her offspring. Thus, when the mother-child relationship is focused on the perspective of loss, one can observe the translation of iminent suffering and diffuse feelings that are intensely experienced in the search for re-signification. Objective: The present study aims to understand the meaning of the loss of a child from the mother’s point of view who experienced the diagnosis of brain death and authorized organ donation. Methods: The present study aims to understand the meaning of the loss of a child from the mother’s point of view who experienced the diagnosis of brain death and authorized organ donation. Results: The unveiling of the phenomenological narrative indicated the phenomenological construct: Death pervades the living-world that describes the difficulty of dealing with death, the moment of confirmation of loss, and the experience of mourning, as profound marks in the trajectory of the being-mother. However, it emerges in the discursiveness through the organ donation view that gives the mother the possibility of mourning the inexistence of the child but also its permanence in a body that is out of her experience range. Conclusion: The results point to reflections about new humanized practices in the health units. In order to reduce the impact of death communication with the establishment of a protocol for family care, which serves as a support system for families that experience the pain of loss and for re-signification of the moment of loss.