When a child faces a life-limiting illness, families deserve a circle of care filled with compassion, expertise, and understanding. At Regional Hospice, our pediatric Tender Hearts program is devoted to supporting children and their families with comfort, dignity, and heartfelt care every step of the way.
Our goal is simple but profound: to ensure that every child is surrounded by comfort, and every family feels supported, understood, and never alone.
Concurrent care enables children with a life-limiting illness to continue to receive curative treatment along with comfort care to help manage their symptoms. This means your child can receive curative treatments while receiving additional expert care for pain and symptom management, as well as emotional and spiritual care.
The Tender Hearts Care Team at Regional Hospice is specially trained to support the unique needs of children and their families. With deep expertise and heartfelt dedication, our staff helps ensure every child is cared for with comfort, dignity, and understanding.
Beth Myer
Pediatric RN Case Manager
Julia Anderson, LCSW
Pediatric Social Worker
Jennifer Bell Finegan, LMT
Manager of Complementary Therapies
Samuel Dexter, MDiv
Chaplain
Marlon Simpkins, MDiv
Chaplain
“It is a very isolating thing to have a terminally ill child. The team at Regional Hospice let us talk; they asked questions. They were added coverage – they were there, support in the corner, which is just what we wanted.”
— Karlie and Scott Conn (Austin’s parents)
Austin was cared for by us in his home.
“Let’s do as much as we can and make his life as enjoyable as possible.”
— Jeff Bankers (Jackson’s Father)
Processing Loss
“It was 4:52 AM when I woke up that day. My eyes were red, and swollen like bug bites are after hours of scratching. My head stayed on the pillow as I forgot what I dreamt about.”
— Casey Cummings (Tyler’s Sister)
He Needed His Mom
The night we were told of our two-month-old son Austin’s terminal illness was the worst night of our lives. The walls crumbled around us. Despite being in the hospital, surrounded by machinery and beeps and alarms – there was nothing else.
— Karlie Conn (Austin’s mom)
These external organizations and materials can help you learn more about pediatric hospice care, coping with illness, and finding compassionate support for your child and family.
The Funeral Service Foundation has generously provided us with copies of their funeral planning guide to offer some inspiration for celebrating the life and love of our youngest patients.
