The art and virtue of the care of a sick and disabled child

ABSTRACT

The aim of this theoretical paper is to think about the emotional link that a mother establishes with her sick and disabled child as a creation of an artwork of care, which involves a process of comprehending and transforming the feelings of guilt, rejection, shame, pain and uncertainty regarding the presence of that child. In addition, the art and virtue of taking care of this child does not imply the development of an act and the application or execution of a technique, but it involves putting at the service of the illness and dependence, the creativity, patience, acceptance and emotional and personal implication.

KEYWORDS:

• Disabled child
• mother
• bond
• sick
• care
• art

Acknowledgements

I thank the mothers for all they have taught me about the care and love of a sick and disabled child for the process of acceptance, and not of resignation, that she carries out with respect to the child who did not comply with her wishes and with the initial expectations that she had.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author.

Notes on contributor

Nancy Castrillón has a degree in psychology from the University of San Buenaventura of Colombia and obtained a Specialization in Clinical Psychology from the University of Northern Colombia. And she has Master’s degree in Humanities from the universtity of Barcelona and Society in Neurorehabilitation and Neurodegenerative diseases from the University Autonoma of Barcelona, and in chronicity and dependence from the university Pompeu and Fabra, Spain. She has professional experience in the area of Neurorehabilitation; specifically in people with profound mental retardation, chronic neurodegenerative diseases, child rare diseases and traumatic brain injuries in children and adults. She has training in psychotherapy and psychoanalytic relational, completing courses in analysis of dreams, neuroscience and psychoanalysis, the mentalization and the ability to think. She is a member of IARPP International. She works in private practice for the treatment of adolescents and adults in Barcelona, Spain.