Thus words and drawings are used to explain leukemia and other haematological diseases of the parents to the children

Helping children understand their parents’ illness and support them in this difficult situation: the goal of the Emanuela Project, launched in 2013 by a

group of hematologists from San Gerardo di Monza, one of psychologists and with the help ofassociation of Light and Lifefrom the Monza and Brianza Foundation for the child and his mother and the General Directorate of San Gerardo. Sick people are given the opportunity to have their children (of any age) come to the hospital so that they can be close to their parents. The disease (leukemia or others) is described to children through metaphors and drawings.

In 2016, students of the Amedeo Modigliani Art School in Giussano were asked to illustrate difficult words accompanying the interviews. The result was a collaboration between school and hospital which this year also led to the organization of one exhibition of the works at the San Gerardo hospital (until May 27, in the hall in front of the dining room on floor -1).

What Happens When Dad or Mom Get Sick

When a serious illness comes into a family adults tend to protect the youngtrying to get them away from this pain, pretending that nothing has happened and that everything is the same as before, he explains Lorenza Borinhematologist in charge of the Emanuela Project. But the children understand that something is wrongsometimes they ask questions and if they receive an evasive answer or a non-answer, they deduce that they cannot talk about that topic and they react instinctively by feigning serenity to keep parents quiet, continues Dr. Borin.

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a form of mutual protection is created which on the one hand leaves children alone with their fears and their unanswered questions e on the other hand, it puts parents in difficulty as they have to face the disease in great secrecy, trying hard to hide the side effects of the therapies.

The children enter the ward

The children perceive that something has disturbed their days and It is important to help them understand what is happening by accompanying them and listening to their needs. The Emanuela Project was born precisely to help families talk to their children about the disease that has struck a parent. it was created with the help of Alba Marcoli, an analytically trained clinical psychologist, who described him in her latest book Grandma still dead? (2014, published posthumously by Mondadori). Within this Project children enter Hematology, in a room set up with games and other materials. A doctor together with a psychologist he talks about the disease using the drawings and metaphors shown today in the exhibition at the San Gerardo.

The guardians

The images proved to be an invaluable help. To help rework what we heard, the meeting continues with games or with the painting atelier (inspired by the one conceived by the psychoanalyst Maud Mannoni). After having drawn all together on a large sheet, in silence, each one of their own drawings, the conductor of the atelier invites the participants to place guardians in a central space. Guardians to protect the design, but also to protect everyone’s fears and desires, represented by a symbol. Each explains his own guardian, these words are transcribed on the drawing.

We often find “protective” symbols which for children are rainbow, sun, superheroes or objects usually used to defend themselves such as swords, shields. For adults, protection often represented by “religious” symbols such as crosses, angels, joined hands, lights. Often guardians are placed in order not to feel alone, to be able to see, to be able to hear, to be able to give words to the revealed truth and be, at the same time, supported. The meetings take place again in the main moments of the course of the disease and in any case when the family requests it, explains the scientific manager of the Emanuela Project.

Students meet doctors

In September 2016 the students of the Amedeo Modigliani Art School met for the first time the team of doctors and psychologists who are involved in the Emanuela Project in the San Gerardo Hematology department. Doctors and psychologists explained to the students the need to accompany difficult words with drawings to tell them. The work was complexit was necessary to understand the pathologies and transform them into a communication project that, through some metaphors, could work for children and young people of different ages, underlines the professor Cristina Cassanmagnago, referent of the project for the Lyceum. Leukemia told as a flowery meadow overrun with weeds, the doctor becomes a gardener and the sick dad or mom are protected in the hospital room, just as the flowers have to stay in the greenhouse.

An engaging experience

Students, depending on their specific field of study (Figurative Arts, Multimedia Audiovisual and Graphics), they produced anatomical tables, illustrations and slidestrying in a real context to apply the creative and design skills typical of their studies. it was an exciting work that still continues, because when students verify the effectiveness of their intervention, they remain professionally involvedexperimenting with attitudes and skills that could remain latent in traditional teaching, but which are very useful for the training and growth process they are facing, concludes Cassanmagnago.