What to Say to a Child About Illness, Grief, or Death with Dr. Bob Macauley EP 77
Mon Nov 17 2025
What do you say to a child who’s seriously ill—or grieving the loss of someone they love? In this powerful conversation, pediatric palliative care physician and Episcopal priest Dr. Bob Macauley shares how to speak honestly and compassionately with children facing illness, grief, or death.
We explore developmental stages, emotional awareness, and what not to say—plus insights from Dr. Bob’s new memoir, Because I Knew You: How Some Remarkable Sick Kids Healed a Doctor’s Soul. You’ll walk away with clarity, courage, and practical language for the hardest conversations.
In this episode, we discuss:
How to talk about death without euphemisms. Age-specific insights into how children understand loss. Real language you can use with children facing hard questions. Emotional and spiritual support for the entire family. Why “just showing up” is often the most powerful thing you can do.The Sofia Unfiltered by Sofia Health is for general informational and entertainment purposes only and does not constitute the practice of medicine, nursing, or other professional healthcare services, including the giving of medical advice. No doctor/patient relationship is formed. The use of information on this podcast or materials linked from this podcast is at the user’s own risk. The content of this podcast is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Users should not disregard or delay in obtaining medical advice for any medical condition they may have. For any health concerns, users should seek the assistance of their healthcare professionals.
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What do you say to a child who’s seriously ill—or grieving the loss of someone they love? In this powerful conversation, pediatric palliative care physician and Episcopal priest Dr. Bob Macauley shares how to speak honestly and compassionately with children facing illness, grief, or death. We explore developmental stages, emotional awareness, and what not to say—plus insights from Dr. Bob’s new memoir, Because I Knew You: How Some Remarkable Sick Kids Healed a Doctor’s Soul. You’ll walk away with clarity, courage, and practical language for the hardest conversations. In this episode, we discuss: How to talk about death without euphemisms. Age-specific insights into how children understand loss. Real language you can use with children facing hard questions. Emotional and spiritual support for the entire family. Why “just showing up” is often the most powerful thing you can do.The Sofia Unfiltered by Sofia Health is for general informational and entertainment purposes only and does not constitute the practice of medicine, nursing, or other professional healthcare services, including the giving of medical advice. No doctor/patient relationship is formed. The use of information on this podcast or materials linked from this podcast is at the user’s own risk. The content of this podcast is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Users should not disregard or delay in obtaining medical advice for any medical condition they may have. For any health concerns, users should seek the assistance of their healthcare professionals.