Since the 1970s, there has been an approximate doubling of the numbers of children reported to have longstanding illnesses. Around 100,000 children in the UK suffer chronic illness, while some 20,000 families in the UK have to cope with the prospect of a child who will not survive to adulthood. Broken dreams and hearts are all-consuming facts of life for parents of a seriously ill child or teenager, whose own lives may be put on hold for years. Broken hearts and dreams are facts of life for these families, who have to manage a combination of ongoing grief and exhaustion. This book looks at how living in the shadow of loss can bring its own precious moments, and how our children teach us to live in the present. The topics covered include: your child's fears and concerns; having time for yourself; sustaining your relationship with your partner; relationships with other siblings; your own health; difficult decisions and transitions; and, accepting the present.