The Experience of South American Mothers Who Have a Child Being Treated for Malignancy in the United States

Abstract

This phenomenological study examined the experience of South American mothers who brought their children to the United States for cancer treatment. Five mothers were interviewed twice about their subjective experiences. Data were analyzed using Colaizzi's method of phenomenology. Thirty-two significant statements were grouped into eight themes. The South American mothers brought their children to the United States in hopes of finding effective treatment, illustrating the major theme of our findings that no effort or sacrifice was too great to save their children's lives. The diagnosis of cancer had an overwhelming impact on the child and the family. This was made worse by the uncertainty of treatment outcome. Although the decision to come disrupted family life and caused economic and cultural hardship, it was uniformly believed to have been the right decision. The greatest challenges experienced by the mothers were language difficulties and the constant preoccupation with the child's illness. Through faith and a variety of coping strategies, these South American mothers succeeded in adapting. They transcended life disruption and focused on the critical goal of restoring their child's health. Central to their experience is that everything humanly possible be done to preserve the life of their child.