How I approach expressing condolences and longitudinal remembering to a family after the death of a child

Bereaved families fear their child being forgotten by those who knew their loved child, including their child's oncology team. Thoughtfully timed, family-centric condolences shared by pediatric oncology team members have the potential to extend our compassion and kindness toward a family during the darkness of grief. Well-intended medical teams sometimes feel “at a loss” in terms of what to say to a grieving family and how or when to say it. This paper provides a tangible overview of written or verbal condolence communication in a format that can be personalized to the provider and the patient's family.