More than 25 years after Ruth died,  I decided to see what articles and studies had been published on the effects of childhood illness and death on siblings.  I headed to the Weiner Library at Fairleigh Dickinson University, located in Teaneck where I lived.  I knew the task would be emotional.

When I passed through the library doors, I felt an immediate sense of purpose.  I found the reference librarian.  “I’m looking for articles or studies that have been done on the effect of serious childhood illness and death on healthy siblings,”  I blurted out.  She told me  to check out the indexes for Psychological Abstacts.

I spent several hours going through them and jotting down  articles of interest.  I had to make a second trip to get copies of what I wanted to read.  Literature on sibling illness and death were sparse, but what there was validated my own feelings. Continue reading Research on How Childhood Illness and Death Affect Siblings →