Doctor Asks Terminally Ill Children What’s Important In Life, And Their Answers Will Make You Think
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.
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
Dr. McAlpine’s tweets resonated with a lot of people
71Kviews
Share on FacebookI'm gonna go ugly cry now. This was very eye opening. These children are far braver than anyone could ever imagine.
LOL@caleb you apologized like you were surprised you even wrote the insult. What happened over there?
Load More Replies...I couldn’t finish reading the list, it’s too early in the morning to have my “allergies” act up.
I'm sitting here fighting off an attack form a ninja onion. it's not pretty.
Load More Replies...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.
I'm an atheist too, but I also agree with everything said here. I just feel really sad that the one child thought he'd be getting better, he wanted to be a great detective like Sherlock Holmes..... that is what made me cry. He didn't know. He had no idea..... but I hope he was loved, and treated with kindness, and didn't suffer. What a moving topic, a great thread, and how we can each learn something here, whether we are believers of god or allah, or whatever, or not. #HugYourChildrenDaily #HugYourDogDaily
I worked as a nurse, part of the time with adults who were terminally ill. ( worked with kids in general early on- i can't do that, want to take all of them home ) Adults who are close to death can be amazing, helping each other out. looking after their families. People told me such personal private stuff they never told anybody. Such a humbling honour. Plenty of times i would go home and cry for hours. But crying at work; that just makes it worse for the patient and the family. Great respect for people who can work with kids. Great respect for him for asking the *important* question.
I'm a pharmacist and I use to work in a children's hospital where we would dose, make and give chemo and other meds like that. Some of the children were dying and some were going to make it, but what impressed me the most was how much happiness and love those kids seemed to have, no matter what! I loved those children! Very inspiring!
Something completely off-topic, but....for a moment I thought that the guy in the picture was Adam Sandler :D
I think it is not an eye- opener. I have never heard of anyone, who thought to spend more time on facebook. Everyone worries about family, close friends. Everyone knows not to give a sh** about what others (might) think about you- everyone also knows that thats impossible. This post might be a bit sader because children, who are ill spoke- but the answers of healtjy ones are not that different (maybe just in their heart for coolness reasons)
I don't understand the last tweet, "I'm not a believer but I agree with you" - sorry genuinely confused- believer in what? This doesn't seem to be about God or Religion, just about what people say is important to them. Genuine question. If anyone could help explain to me would be much appreciated, thank you x
He's answering to aldrianalphonso but as we don't have this tweet....
Load More Replies...Touching. I am glad there is someone so wonderful to help these little angels
This was thought provoking&very sad to think of all these little souls who wont get to see old age
Reading this at my desk at work and fighting back tears of sadness at the same time as feeling such love and heartbreak for all children fighting life threatening illness and their families. I am greatful and blessed to have a happy healthy daughter and grandson. This is truly inspiring to never miss an opportunity to hug you loved ones.
I wish more people were kind too. The world is hard enough, people need to soften their hearts to others
It's just like lessons in life, and kids know them all, it just when we grow up this knowledge vanishes somehow.
Good points were made, but I don’t think those are direct quotes from kids.
Prayers for the children, families, and their medical staff. Praying for their doctor. We take so much for granted. Can't imagine saying goodbye to my child.
I'm gonna go ugly cry now. This was very eye opening. These children are far braver than anyone could ever imagine.
LOL@caleb you apologized like you were surprised you even wrote the insult. What happened over there?
Load More Replies...I couldn’t finish reading the list, it’s too early in the morning to have my “allergies” act up.
I'm sitting here fighting off an attack form a ninja onion. it's not pretty.
Load More Replies...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.
I'm an atheist too, but I also agree with everything said here. I just feel really sad that the one child thought he'd be getting better, he wanted to be a great detective like Sherlock Holmes..... that is what made me cry. He didn't know. He had no idea..... but I hope he was loved, and treated with kindness, and didn't suffer. What a moving topic, a great thread, and how we can each learn something here, whether we are believers of god or allah, or whatever, or not. #HugYourChildrenDaily #HugYourDogDaily
I worked as a nurse, part of the time with adults who were terminally ill. ( worked with kids in general early on- i can't do that, want to take all of them home ) Adults who are close to death can be amazing, helping each other out. looking after their families. People told me such personal private stuff they never told anybody. Such a humbling honour. Plenty of times i would go home and cry for hours. But crying at work; that just makes it worse for the patient and the family. Great respect for people who can work with kids. Great respect for him for asking the *important* question.
I'm a pharmacist and I use to work in a children's hospital where we would dose, make and give chemo and other meds like that. Some of the children were dying and some were going to make it, but what impressed me the most was how much happiness and love those kids seemed to have, no matter what! I loved those children! Very inspiring!
Something completely off-topic, but....for a moment I thought that the guy in the picture was Adam Sandler :D
I think it is not an eye- opener. I have never heard of anyone, who thought to spend more time on facebook. Everyone worries about family, close friends. Everyone knows not to give a sh** about what others (might) think about you- everyone also knows that thats impossible. This post might be a bit sader because children, who are ill spoke- but the answers of healtjy ones are not that different (maybe just in their heart for coolness reasons)
I don't understand the last tweet, "I'm not a believer but I agree with you" - sorry genuinely confused- believer in what? This doesn't seem to be about God or Religion, just about what people say is important to them. Genuine question. If anyone could help explain to me would be much appreciated, thank you x
He's answering to aldrianalphonso but as we don't have this tweet....
Load More Replies...Touching. I am glad there is someone so wonderful to help these little angels
This was thought provoking&very sad to think of all these little souls who wont get to see old age
Reading this at my desk at work and fighting back tears of sadness at the same time as feeling such love and heartbreak for all children fighting life threatening illness and their families. I am greatful and blessed to have a happy healthy daughter and grandson. This is truly inspiring to never miss an opportunity to hug you loved ones.
I wish more people were kind too. The world is hard enough, people need to soften their hearts to others
It's just like lessons in life, and kids know them all, it just when we grow up this knowledge vanishes somehow.
Good points were made, but I don’t think those are direct quotes from kids.
Prayers for the children, families, and their medical staff. Praying for their doctor. We take so much for granted. Can't imagine saying goodbye to my child.
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