Introduction. A sudden, unexpected diagnosis of a threat to life, or child disability, implies particularly difficult challenges that the entire family system must face, and especially parents who experience difficult parenting. Aim. The aim of the research was to diagnose the experiences of mothers and fathers who found themselves in a traumatic situation resulting from a diagnosis of a threat to life or child disability. Methods and materials. The research used the diagnostic survey method, the interview technique and self-developed interview questionnaires with established response categories and open-ended questions, so that respondents could freely express their feelings and emotions. Additionally, as an open-ended question, respondents could express themselves in an essay on the topic: My family. The most characteristic statements were used in the presented article. The parents studied had children with developmental disabilities. The study also used parts of the FACES IV-SOR questionnaire by Olson and Gorall (2006) in order to indicate how important the prevailing bonds, family adaptation to a difficult situation, or satisfaction with marital life are in these families. Results. Research has shown that a sudden diagnosis for the child’s condition, which is difficult for the parents, changed the functioning of the entire family system, especially for parents who experience long-term fear in a situation of helplessness and enter a particularly difficult stage of the suffering trajectory. The ability to cope with particularly difficult emotions and stress and to obtain multidisciplinary support affects the quality of relationships and bonds, the family’s adaptation to difficult challenges, and especially the conditions for child’s development and functioning of the entire family system.