title: Children with special health needs and family: implications for Nursing.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  to understand the family experience of children and adolescents with myelomeningocele by the discovery of chronic illness and their daily life in the realization of needed care to these people.
  
  
  METHODS
  qualitative study, developed from October 2013 to February 2014, with family, in a pediatric hospital in Fortaleza. Data were collected through interviews and checked by analysis thematic category.
  
  
  RESULTS
  it was found that the diagnosis after the birth of the child caused fear and anguish to the families in front of the unknown and the unexpected and that over the years they started to deal with many challenges conducting the daily care due to the disease sequelae.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  nursing plays an important role in the lives of families, children and adolescents, through emotional support, guidelines and care inserted in the health care network.
authors: Programa de Pós-Graduação em Saúde Coletiva, Universidade Estadual do Ceará, Fortaleza, CE, Brasil.
authors: Sarah Vieira
authors: SV
authors: Figueiredo
authors: Graduação em Enfermagem, Universidade Estadual do Ceará, Fortaleza, CE, Brasil.
authors: Ana Carla Carvalho
authors: AC
authors: de Sousa
authors: Programa de Pós-Graduação em Saúde Coletiva, Universidade Estadual do Ceará, Fortaleza, CE, Brasil.
authors: Ilvana Lima Verde
authors: IL
authors: Gomes
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D002648:Child; D002662:Child Health Services; D002908:Chronic Disease; D003695:Delivery of Health Care; D005190:Family; D005192:Family Health; D005239:Fear; D005260:Female; D006301:Health Services Needs and Demand; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D036301:Qualitative Research; D012944:Social Support