A child with an inoperable brain tumor | Terminal Illness | Forum

I have a friend whose son an inoperable brain tumor (he is 9).  It is the saddest thing in the world, I can't imagine watching my child die and that is what they are doing.  Slowly his body is shutting down, the tumor is growing at super fast speeds.  I am trying to be there as much as I can, but I don't know what to say or do.  Any tips?

Being there as often as you can is the main thing. As for what to say – that is harder. The main thing is to avoid platitudes like – "well, I think he's a bit better today" or "you two are so brave" and such like. If this child is terminal and the activities around him are limited, you can find positive things to say in what is happening – "he really enjoyed that story you just read to him", "he laughed at the bubbles we were blowing".  He is alive and such statements affirm his life as it is NOW.

If you have moments when you just don't know what to say – tell the parents so, touch their arm, give them a hug is you are close enough and say "I just don't know what to say to you right now" or "There's nothing I can say – but I'm here and I want to be here"