Spirituality, loss and recovery in children with disabilities

Abstract

This article focuses on loss, recovery and spiritual dimensions of trauma in spinal cord injury (SCI) during adolescence. From a clinical perspective, while there are physical characteristics in common with congenital childhood disabilities such as spina bifida, life adjustment issues associated with acquired disabilities can be quite different, and may have lower reported life satisfaction. There is little information about adolescents who have experienced SCI and the role of spirituality in the rehabilitation process. To explore that relationship further, this article uses a case study approach of a 15‐year‐old female adolescent who had acquired a SCI in a motor vehicle accident that claimed the lives of her mother and grandparents. Her story was gathered through several interviews and was examined in terms of her spiritual perspectives. The purpose is to present implications, informed by other adolescents as well, that help family, health‐care providers and other adults, especially teachers, to understand her needs.

Keywords:

• loss
• physical injury
• spinal cord injury
• disability
• spirituality
• rehabilitation

Acknowledgements

I wish to thank three individuals for their contribution to this article: Haiden (not her real name) for her time and courage to tell her story, and for giving me permission to tell it; Sandy Smith, MDiv, for her careful review of the manuscript and her helpful suggestions and insights; and Julie Erickson for her comments and encouragement.