Full Description
More than 3,500 children die from life-limiting illness each year in the UK. For them and their families, there's normally one beacon of hope: to make the most of the time they have left with the help of a very special breed of medics - the paediatric palliative care teams.
Cambridge-educated consultant Dr Jane Jones is one of these brave doctors, willing to take on an emotionally rigorous job few would be able to do. She has devoted her career to working in the field, splitting her time between a major NHS hospital trust and her role as chief medical officer for a charity children's hospice. Her debut book, The Wrong Order of Things, gives a rare insight into this little-talked-about world - exposing the reality of caring for an ill child, the heart-wrenching decisions families face, how to find light in the darkest of times and, perhaps most importantly, the lessons these children can teach each and everyone about making the most of the time we have.
Through a series of anonymised real-life stories, structured around the patient journey, the book covers everything from the moment parents learn of a prognosis through to the aftermath of saying goodbye. It asks us to consider the laws around dying with dignity and paediatric end-of-life care and explores the often difficult path families must navigate - the delicate tightrope between having hope and accepting reality.
She's been there when children have taken their last breath, supporting families as they turn off the ventilator or say their farewells.
This book will be a lifeline to those who have experienced, or are currently experiencing their own ordeal with a loved one. It will also offer a vital insight to medics, carers and those dealing with other forms of loss or grief. Above all, however, it is a story about humanity - and the magical power we all have to find strength, courage and little moments of happiness in the face of overwhelming adversity.
