7 year old

[bigbear1]

I have a 7 year old boy who was really close to his granfather, he past away last week. Since then hes missed 2 days of school due to hives which we originally thought was due to a spider bite. Today hewent back to school and was complaining of an upset stomach since this morning. Any ideas out there. could the hives cause the stomach ache? We did take him to the emergency room for the hives and the doctor gave him a steroid shot in the behind for the hives, and gave us some steroids for the next 2 days for him to take. They did go away but now his stomach is upset all day.

Thank You J

[Lovesadkids]

To think your son's stomach ache is NOT the result of this tremendous loss in his life simply isn't likely. Have you talked to him about this death?  This is crucial.  Ask him what he thinks about the death event, or have him draw for you his thoughts on Grandpa's death.  Bring up the topic on a daily basis.  Say something like, "How was school today?  Did you think much about Grandpa and his death?"  Seven year olds can think all sorts of unreal, scary things about death and dying.  Your son may very well have a false notion about this loss that is upsetting him.  From real-life experience, children believed:  cancer is contageous; parents are going to die and he'll have to be raised by the neighbors; Grandpa is scared because now he is dead; caskets have beds of nails to impale the body; Grandpa will come back and take him away with him; dead bodies are tossed into the ocean; I could have stopped Grandpa from dying if only I had..., etc.   There are Grief centers that sometimes offer a few weeks of group discussion for children.  It would be a good idea to check into those.  Sorry for your loss!