Stories of restitution: Family experiences of diagnosis and help-seeking for a child with cerebral palsy

Abstract

Background: The experience of living with children with CP is dominated by the voice of the mother while others are rarely reported. Incorporation of the voices of other family members is important for a holistic understanding.

Methods: Drawing on the philosophical perspectives of pragmatism, generic qualitative methodology, and Frank's narratives, this article highlights how restitution was constructed by 30 family members.

Findings: They constructed restitution by hoping for a cure through either biomedical and/or alternative models of treatment, followed by intransitive and transcendent restitution.

Discussion: This appears to be the first time that restitution has been extended to families living with children with chronic illnesses.

Application to practice: This would mean that paediatric nursing professionals and other health professionals dealing with family members living with children with CP could attend to their stories in an open and focused manner to honour and validate their stories as well as their experiences.

Keywords: Cerebral palsy; Families; Pragmatism; Restitution.