Wings Pediatric Hospice and Palliative Care
About Wings
The topic of a dying child is not a comfortable one to discuss. When a chronic or life-limiting illness strikes within a family, family members are often overwhelmed with anger, confusion and fear. Those who might have been financially comfortable are often plunged into living hand-to-mouth due to medical bills or time taken off for work. Other children might suffer as all attention and energy is tuned upon the child who is ill.
BJC Hospice’s pediatric program, Wings, provides a circle of support for the terminally ill children and their loved ones, to lessen the stress on the family and help guide them. They move children with chronic progressive illnesses gradually along a plan of care that changes as the disease progresses. This allows children to make a smooth transition from the standard curative model, through aggressive palliative care, and eventually to hospice care, if chosen.
Initially care might be quite aggressive, but as the disease progresses and efforts to prolong life become more futile, care focuses more on comfort for the child. Wings care helps their young patients live every day to the fullest by managing their symptoms so that their last days may be lived with dignity. Support and care is also extended to the parents, siblings and extended families.
Our children usually live at home, among those who love them. A nurse, chaplain and medical social worker visit them there to provide the primary services. However, an entire team of specially trained individuals is there for both the child and family, while providing the best medical, emotional and spiritual support available. Medical equipment and supplies are made available related to the terminal illness; trained volunteers provide friendship or help with household needs; special care therapies are offered such as Healing Touch, Reiki, message, art and music therapy; and grief counseling and memory projects are offered.
A donation from you could help a child…
No one is ever turned away from the Wings pediatric hospice program, regardless ability to pay. Our specialized programs are not covered by insurance and run entirely on donations.
For additional information call, 314-872-5050, toll-free 888-BJC-HOME, or visit www.bjchospice.org.
The history of Wings:
The program is community based and serves children in Missouri and Illinois who live within a 50-mile radius of St. Louis. Wings is the only pediatric hospice in the area. No one is ever turned away from the program based on their financial situation, religious beliefs or diagnosis. An active network of community members, called Friends of Wings, support fundraising efforts, making it possible to offer unique programs, such as music therapy, massage therapy for patients and caregivers, expressive therapy, and extensive support through the bereavement program, which include retreats and camps for children and adolescents.
Wings is the pediatric hospice and supportive card arm of BJC Home Care, and was the first program of its kind in the area.
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