Concept Application Blog- Rylee Terry

For my cultural reporter project, I chose to look deeper into families with terminally- ill children. These families are typically spending a majority of their time within the walls of hospitals surrounded by the same doctors, nurses, receptionists, and other families that have found themselves in the same situation. I have furthered my research through the Omaha Children’s Hospital. I have also done some previous research through my visit to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital in Memphis, TN. I have chosen to look deeper into the theory of culture shock.

I firmly believe that when a patient family has learned that their child has been diagnosed they are introduced to a whole new world. According to Martin & Nakayama culture shock is “a relatively short-term feeling of disorientation, of discomfort due to the unfamiliarity of surroundings and the lack of familiar cues in the environment” (Martin & Nakayama 2013). Having to change your life plans according to what is best for your child can cause a lot of disorientation. The potential threat of having to move into a hospital and/or the Ronald McDonald house would cause a family a bit of shock, a life completely different from their normal routine. The first step necessary for families is to wrap their head around what is going on and ADJUST to the situation. The families can relax and have confidence that their medical team is going to do whatever they can to better the child’s life. Childhood cancer is a long haul, but at some point they will encounter the W-Curve. This is in regards to when the family is able to adjust back to their normal everyday life, but it will be a difficult process adapting back to what really is normal.

As far as research goes, I have visited St. Jude and took a lot of notes about what families go through once they know that they have childhood cancer and what it is like for them to drop whatever is going on in their life at that time. I have also been in contact with a patient family from the Omaha Children’s Hospital. I plan to do more research by conducting interviews with this family. I will be recording this interview so I can ensure that I will get all of the details.

Pictured below: Myself at St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital on the Tri Delta Patient Care Floor.

References:

Martin, J.N., & Nakayama, T.K. (2013). Intercultural communication in contexts (6^th ed.). New York, NY: McGraw Hill