Bored Panda works better on our iPhone app
Continue in app Continue in browser

The Bored Panda iOS app is live! Fight boredom with iPhones and iPads here.

Doctor Asks Terminally Ill Children What’s Important In Life, And Their Answers Will Make You Think
Doctor Asks Terminally Ill Children What’s Important In Life, And Their Answers Will Make You Think
User submission
10K

Doctor Asks Terminally Ill Children What’s Important In Life, And Their Answers Will Make You Think

ADVERTISEMENT

Dr. Alistair McAlpine, from Cape Town, South Africa, has one of the toughest jobs there is. He works as a pediatrician with children in palliative care, helping them to live out their heartbreakingly short lives with as little pain and as much joy as possible.

Tired of the negativity he often sees on social media, he decided to share some uplifting thoughts from his patients, so he asked what they enjoyed in life, and what gave it meaning. The children, aged between 4 and 9, gave eye-opening responses that are wise beyond their years.

None of the banal details that we spend too much time stressing over were mentioned. No television, no Facebook, no video games. No stressing about what others thought about them and what they looked like. Just simple pleasures such as reading a book, playing with pets, and caring for mom and dad.

Dr. McAlpine’s series of tweets have resonated with people, being shared thousands of times. Sometimes we all need a reality check, rebalance, refocus and come back to what is really important. The wisdom these kids provide, in such heartbreaking circumstances, is a lesson to us all. Thank you, Dr. McAlpine for sharing it with the world.

RELATED:

    terminal-kids-answers-important-life-alastair-mcalpine‏-1

    ADVERTISEMENT

    Dr. Alistair McAlpine shared a series of tweets from his terminally ill child patients, after asking what they enjoyed in life, and what gave it meaning

    terminal-kids-answers-important-life-alastair-mcalpine‏ (1)

    terminal-kids-answers-important-life-alastair-mcalpine‏ (2)

    terminal-kids-answers-important-life-alastair-mcalpine‏ (3)

    terminal-kids-answers-important-life-alastair-mcalpine‏ (5)

    ADVERTISEMENT
    ADVERTISEMENT

    terminal-kids-answers-important-life-alastair-mcalpine‏ (6)

    terminal-kids-answers-important-life-alastair-mcalpine‏ (7)

    terminal-kids-answers-important-life-alastair-mcalpine‏ (8)

    terminal-kids-answers-important-life-alastair-mcalpine‏ (9)

    ADVERTISEMENT
    ADVERTISEMENT

    terminal-kids-answers-important-life-alastair-mcalpine‏ (10)

    terminal-kids-answers-important-life-alastair-mcalpine‏ (11)

    terminal-kids-answers-important-life-alastair-mcalpine‏ (12)

    terminal-kids-answers-important-life-alastair-mcalpine‏ (13)

    ADVERTISEMENT
    ADVERTISEMENT

    Dr. McAlpine’s tweets resonated with a lot of people

    terminal-kids-answers-important-life-alastair-mcalpine‏- (1)

    terminal-kids-answers-important-life-alastair-mcalpine‏- (2)

    terminal-kids-answers-important-life-alastair-mcalpine‏- (3)

    terminal-kids-answers-important-life-alastair-mcalpine‏- (4)

    ADVERTISEMENT
    ADVERTISEMENT

    terminal-kids-answers-important-life-alastair-mcalpine‏- (5)

    terminal-kids-answers-important-life-alastair-mcalpine‏- (6)

    terminal-kids-answers-important-life-alastair-mcalpine‏- (7)

    terminal-kids-answers-important-life-alastair-mcalpine‏- (8)

    ADVERTISEMENT
    ADVERTISEMENT

    72Kviews

    Share on Facebook

    Explore more of these tags

    Iveta

    Iveta

    Author, Community member

    Read more »

    This lazy panda forgot to write something about itself.

    Read less »
    Iveta

    Iveta

    Author, Community member

    This lazy panda forgot to write something about itself.

    What do you think ?
    User avatar
    Add photo comments
    POST
    Heather Johnson
    Community Member
    7 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    I'm gonna go ugly cry now. This was very eye opening. These children are far braver than anyone could ever imagine.

    Nadine Ducca
    Community Member
    7 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    LOL@caleb you apologized like you were surprised you even wrote the insult. What happened over there?

    Load More Replies...
    Lu
    Community Member
    7 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    I couldn’t finish reading the list, it’s too early in the morning to have my “allergies” act up.

    Janina Prado
    Community Member
    7 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    I'm sitting here fighting off an attack form a ninja onion. it's not pretty.

    Load More Replies...
    lisa H
    Community Member
    7 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    I've been a nurse for 25 years. I worked Hospice for the last 3, and it completely changed my views on life. There are only a few things that matter on this earth. Love, kindness, and joy. Let the rest of it go. It just won't matter that your kid broke the crystal, in the end.

    Load More Comments
    Heather Johnson
    Community Member
    7 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    I'm gonna go ugly cry now. This was very eye opening. These children are far braver than anyone could ever imagine.

    Nadine Ducca
    Community Member
    7 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    LOL@caleb you apologized like you were surprised you even wrote the insult. What happened over there?

    Load More Replies...
    Lu
    Community Member
    7 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    I couldn’t finish reading the list, it’s too early in the morning to have my “allergies” act up.

    Janina Prado
    Community Member
    7 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    I'm sitting here fighting off an attack form a ninja onion. it's not pretty.

    Load More Replies...
    lisa H
    Community Member
    7 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    I've been a nurse for 25 years. I worked Hospice for the last 3, and it completely changed my views on life. There are only a few things that matter on this earth. Love, kindness, and joy. Let the rest of it go. It just won't matter that your kid broke the crystal, in the end.

    Load More Comments
    You May Like
    Related on Bored Panda
    Popular on Bored Panda
    Trending on Bored Panda
    Also on Bored Panda
    ADVERTISEMENT