The Annual Sibling Symposium at Cincinnati Children’s

Last weekend was the Sibling Symposium at Cincinnati Children’s Hospital! We look forward to this event every year. It gives Yasmeen and Leena the opportunity to connect with other siblings of individuals with complex health needs, and Safi and me with parents and caregivers.

However, this year’s symposium was tougher than others we’ve attended.

This was in part because Soraya was admitted to the hospital the weekend of the event and also because it was the first symposium where grief and sibling loss were a big topic of conversation. Two of the three (incredible!) sibling panelists have siblings who had passed away, and hearing about their life experiences and how they’re navigating grief just hit so close to home with Soraya in the hospital at that moment and in hospice.

While I usually participate in breakout sessions with other parents and caregivers, this year I debriefed with Safi and our close friends and family who attended as I was feeling really overwhelmed.

It also brought up unexpected feelings for the girls. Yasmeen and Leena visited Soraya in the TCC (transitional care center) later that morning, and after about two minutes, Leena came up to me and said she had to leave. She said all the topics at the symposium were so heavy and then being in the hospital with Soraya was just too much.

While this year’s conversations were challenging, the girls continue to love their Sibling Symposium experiences. Leena says she is grateful for it even though it was hard in the moment. Both she and Yasmeen appreciate the sense of community the event fosters and that it’s a place where they know there are others they can relate to.

I feel the same ❤️