On the Wings of a Butterfly -- Media Questions

Media Questions

Researching a story on kids who are very, very sick? Wondering how friends can help the young person who's terminally ill? Providing advice for adults who just don't know how to talk to kids about death?

Then you'll want to talk to Marilyn Maple. This vibrant writer and health educator is full of stories about families and friends who have endured the terminal illness of a young person. Nothing sappy or sentimental about her anecdotes, either: she's a pragmatic grandmother who's can provide the practical counsel that dying kids and their parents need.

Here are some questions
you may want to ask Marilyn Maple.

What's the most important thing parents can do when a child is terminally ill?

What should parents say when a child's friend is terminally ill? When an accident or illness suddenly results in a friend's serious handicap?

How can kids be supportive of a dying friend?

Is it OK for adults to cry when talking about an impending death?

What should kids—especially teenagers—do when parents refuse to acknowledge the terminal nature of an illness?