Parental abduction and the push for reconciliation following a life-threatening illness: two case studies

Life-threatening illness may prompt attempts at reconciliation, even when there have been significant rifts between family members. Two case studies of families where there has been a parental abduction of a child are used to illustrate some of the issues that may emerge when there have been serious rifts and an illness. These cases are taken from a larger longitudinal study of families where one parent has kidnapped a child and gone into hiding for a significant period of time. In the first case, it is the parent who recovered the missing child who is ill and seeking greater connection between her child and the parent who abducted. In the second case, the children wanted connection with the ill father who abducted them. In both cases, it is possible that such attempts at reconciliation may not have served the children well. Implications for practitioners dealing with abduction or life-threatening illnesses are included.