Not expected to live much after birth, Logan defied the odds and his family had 10 precious months to spend loving this very special boy.
The author of the latest ICPCN blog, Lanise Shortell, works with The Children’s Program of Hospice Atlanta in Atlanta, Georgia. Her passion for paediatric hospice and palliative care began 38 years ago. Her brother, Miles, suffered a traumatic brain injury due to a motor vehicle accident. In those days, limited options were available for families. She finds great comfort in watching family centred hospice and palliative care become more accessible to children around the globe.
The blog focuses on the gratitude a family feels towards the paediatric hospice and palliative care team who helped them to make the most of every moment of Logan’s short life.
Lanise describes how Logan’s parents, Katherine and Kyle, found one of the most treasured gifts hospice provided was time. Katherine clarifies that hospice was able to expand the time they were given. “We were not draining moments of his life shuffling him back and forth to physicians’ offices. His medical team came to our home. Our family time was honoured. Hospice protected our most valuable resource – time with our boy.”
Katherine and Kyle were eager to learn how to best care for their son at home. With the guidance of the hospice team they seamlessly developed into confident caregivers. Logan’s symptoms were effectively managed, allowing him to remain where he was happiest, at home.
Hospice was an ongoing presence and only a phone call away should a need arise. To this family hospice provided the gift of reassurance. The hospice presence and medical care provided to Logan as he was passing, allowed them the gift of being fully present as his life gently came to an end.
“Hospice honoured Logan during his life, his death, and with bereavement support that continues to be a resource for our family,” says Katherine.
Read the full blog
Leave a Reply