April 10,2025

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10 ways to help your child grow mentally strong after a transplant

If your child is an infant or a toddler who had to undergo a liver transplant, chances are you can help your little one grow into a confident young adult without many hiccups. But suppose your child is a little older, who had to undergo a transplant and the memories of the pre-transplant days, the sick days and days of running from pillar to post for the right doctor, funds and medical support remains itched in mind. In that case, it becomes a challenge to help your child come out of the cocoon of fear. But there are ways you can help your child look beyond the scars and develop a positive outlook towards life. First, parents should try hard to help children grow up to become mentally strong individuals. If a transplant has made your child quiet, silent, and fearful, don’t let these attributes shape your child’s personality. Here are a few things you can do to help your child become mentally strong.

Practice gratitude: This might sound like a cliché, but know mentally strong people are the ones who are grateful towards life. Help your child practice gratitude daily. In a subtle way, this practice will also help your child accept harsh realities and get ahead with life. Your child will learn to be thankful for the gift of life and appreciate it more for its value. Growing up, your child will shun the “Why me?” dialogue going on in mind and approach problems with an attitude of “Let’s find a way.” Gratitude can do wonders on a building a mentally strong personality; trust us on this.

Look beyond the boundaries: Of course, your child will have to be on some medications lifelong; there is no denying it, but don’t make medications and check-ups the focal point of the child’s existence. Instead, help your child to push the unseen boundaries and explore life beyond the medical realm. Encourage your child to pick up a hobby, sport, or activity that can help instill confidence and impart knowledge. Those skills will help your child to face the challenges of life like a fighter.

Dare to do more: Whether it is academics, sports or arts, encourage your kid to take an extra step to gather knowledge and feel empowered. Remember, nothing can empower a child more than the right kind of knowledge and quenching one’s curiosity. So, if your child has to take up extra classes or wants to do online courses to know more about a subject, go ahead and invest in your child if you can. Mentally strong people are also the ones who have a passion for knowledge and remains a learner for life. Don’t tell your child that being on immunosuppressants or medication should make the young mind rest more and work less. Never do that.

Help differentiate between right and wrong: As your child grows up, your child will mingle more with society and other individuals who might come from different backgrounds and socio-medico needs. Train your child to be away from anti-socials and addictions. You might never know who will be influencing your child and in what way. Train your child for every possible eventuality. For example, tell your child about the consequences of smoking and drinking. How it can ruin the liver that you all sought after a long fight. Once your child learns to differentiate right from the wrong, it will be a massive achievement for you.

Don’t give into tantrums: Did you know kids can be manipulative? Sometimes they can take advantage of their health situation to get things done their way. So, learn to read the signs carefully and don’t easily give in to your child’s tantrums. The first step in raising a mentally strong child is to be assertive, not strict. You will eventually learn how to differentiate between the two.

Encourage freedom of expression: Allow your child to talk – everything positive or negative – about transplant memories or anything else about life. Pent up emotions can do great dangers to your child’s well-being.

Encourage positive self-talk: Did you know that many child psychologists say that you should be conscious of what you talk about and how you talk in front of your kids? Because the way to talk to your child is how they do the mind-talk when they are talking to themselves. So, don’t sympathise about the transplant or talk negatively about it. They will hold the life-changing surgery responsible for all the challenges in life. So, instead, say how heartening it is to see your child do so much more to add value to this gift of life.

Get close to nature: Encourage your child to go out in nature more (once this pandemic subsides) – nature trails, parks, beaches or even for trekking (if the doctor allows). Incidentally, nature has a calming effect on one’s mental well-being.

Be in sync with the world: Just because your child had a transplant doesn’t mean your child should stay in a cocoon without knowing much about the world. Improve your child’s general knowledge and help your little one stay abreast with world affairs. Want a mentally strong child? Empower with knowledge.

For any assistance with paediatric transplant and more information about the same, contact our experts and volunteers at TPAF. Call us on +91-7768853030 or email @ info@tpaf.in