HOSPICE OF DAVIDSON COUNTY ANNOUNCES ADDITION OF PEDIATRIC HOSPICE PROGRAM
A monetary gift from Lauren’s Ladder kickstarts new services for local families
LEXINGTON, N.C. (July 25, 2017) – With the support of Davidson County nonprofit Lauren’s Ladder, Hospice of Davidson County is on its way to expanding its services to include a pediatric hospice program.
As a part of the agency’s $2.3 million comprehensive campaign, the Hospice of Davidson County pediatric hospice program will serve patients ages birth to 18 and their families. To launch this $225,000 program, Hospice of Davidson County will need additional staff training, room furnishings and specialized equipment to provide care to young patients with unique needs.
Lexington-based, Lauren’s Ladder has contributed $35,000 to the future pediatric program in memory of 11-year-old Lauren Cecil who passed in July 2013. Lauren’s Ladder supports organizations and activities that contribute to the educational, emotional, physical, social and spiritual growth of children and families. This significant gift will be recognized through the naming of The Lauren Cecil Grief Counseling Center at Hospice of Davidson County.
"The loss of a child is the most traumatic and devastating of all losses,” said Lori and Keith Cecil, Lauren’s parents. “Hospice of Davidson County has been instrumental in helping our family navigate the grief journey. It is our hope that through this gift from Lauren's Ladder, other families can find the same healing, hope, comfort and understanding.”
In addition, another local organization has committed a gift of $10,000 to the new program.
“Children with terminal illness most often spend their final days in hospitals, although many families wish to return home to experience a comfortable, supported and peaceful end of life journey. Some of these families call Davidson County home,” said Hospice of Davidson County Director of Community Relations, Jan Knox. “It is important that the families of dying children be offered the opportunity to remain in their home community and be cared for by a highly skilled and a compassionate hospice team. Parents, to the degree possible, also need to maintain jobs and other children's school and extracurricular activities. These pediatric patients and families need and deserve tremendous support from an interdisciplinary team with robust grief support services.”
For more information or to make a donation to the pediatric hospice program visit, hospiceofdavidson.org or contact Director of Community Relations Jan Knox at (336) 475-5444.
About Hospice of Davidson County
For more than 30 years, Hospice of Davidson County has been a recognized leader in the advancement of quality end-of-life care across the Piedmont Triad region. Each day, the ACHC accredited agency provides comfort for more than 120 patients and their families, in a variety of locations, including private homes, in long-term care and skilled-nursing facilities and at the Henry Etta & Bruce Hinkle Hospice House, the only inpatient hospice facility in Davidson County. Hospice of Davidson County is a Hospice Honors Elite and an United Way of Davidson County partner agency. For more information, please visit hospiceofdavidson.org or Facebook.