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When Maddie Howell was born, doctors told her parents she only had about four days to live. The family went home to wait for their child to die. Because of Maddie’s fragile condition, they were referred to Kourageous Kids. Her parents, Mike and Melissa, believe that Maddie is still alive today because of the care she continues to receive from this pediatric hospice and palliative care program.

Mike says, “The Kourageous Kids team connected us with cardiologists and other healthcare professionals that could help Maddie. You don’t realize how much you need these dedicated caregivers until you have a child with such extensive needs.”

Melissa says when she calls Sally Hibbs, Maddie’s nurse, she gleans valuable information on how to care for her daughter. “Sally has even come to our home at night to check on Maddie. She helps us determine if we need to take Maddie to the hospital or if we can handle her issue here.”

Even when the couple calls in the middle of the night, there is always someone from Hosparus available to help them.

It’s about way more than the medical care, according  to Mike. “The Kourageous Kids team is like part of our family. They care for Maddie and offer wonderful support for us all.  Sheila Otten, the social worker, even does things with our older daughter McKenzie. We also enjoy the holiday party and Zoo trips. Those outings have given us the chance to bond with other families in similar situations.”

Mike and Melissa encourage donors to give to Kourageous Kids, “There’s no way we could afford to pay for the type of care Hosparus provides for Maddie. Many families are in our situation. Every donation helps.”

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