OUT OF SIGHT

Ever notice you don't see a lot of sick children in our community?

Like beautifully dyed Easter eggs, they are hidden.

Sometimes they are hidden by language. No one wants to talk about dying kids. Not because they don't care, but because it is unimaginable.  

And yet it is happening. Every day children in our community cope with life-limiting illness. And their families cope with grueling routines of 24/7 care, medical bills, and ever-present stress.

When these families are out of sight, we can't see what they go through. We can't see their exhaustion. Their fear. Their grief.

If we can't see them, we can't understand how to help. 

But if you're still reading this, I know it can get better. Now that we are talking about it, we can work together. We can build a place where these families will find respite care and, if needed, end-of-life care and all the strength the community can offer: meals, support, comfort.

It's more than a good cause. I believe it is a social responsibility.  

If you agree, please talk to your family about Ladybug House. Forward this email to five friends. Tell them: I found something incredible and I want you to see it. Show them.

Every dollar donated and every eye opened gets us closer.  

With gratitude,
Suzanne Gwynn
Founder, Ladybug House


glassybaby grant

Thanks to Joan Tierney and Dawn Case, who nominated us, and to everyone who voted, glassybaby awarded us $3,000! We are grateful for the grant and energized to know that so many people out there believe in this movement.

Special thanks to glassybaby for their continued support. Since Light the Bridge 2016, they have been there for us. We hope they will continue to light the path that will help bring this vision to reality.

Learn more
Conversations That Matter

With help from the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society - WA/Alaska Chapter , we hosted another powerful conversation about palliative care for children and young adults.

Join the next one
Big Climb

We volunteered at the Big Climb put on by our friends at Leukemia & Lymphoma Society - Washington/Alaska Chapter .

What a powerful event!
 
DRAGONSLAYER
April 22
Join us for a community walk around Green Lake in Seattle to celebrate survivors and raise funds for the Northwest Sarcoma Foundation.
More information 

UW PALLIATIVE CARE CONFERENCE 
April 24-25 
Learn about the role of palliative care in current and future health care practices.
More information
 

Caregivers survey

If you have ever taken care of someone age 29 and younger in Washington state, please complete our survey.

Seattle University College of Nursing is helping us gather this important information, which can help us improve pediatric palliative care. Multiple caregivers for one child? We want to hear from each of you!



Qualitative researcher Emily Friedman is working on our caregivers survey, along with Erin and Seattle University.

The survey is a crucial piece of our long term strategy. If you or anyone you know has cared for a very ill child at anytime in Washington state, please take the survey and invite others to do the same!


Take the survey
READ. WATCH. SHARE.
 
This provocative article encourages people within the palliative care community to speak out about their experiences and needs.
  
A helpful guide to contacting your legislator. To build Ladybug House, we need support from the top!

Speaking of writing to your legislators, learn about the RACE for Children Act. A little change could make a big difference! 
 
IN CASE YOU MISSED IT: 
 
Katy Hull's incredible TED Talk distills perfectly why we need Ladybug House.   
   
Founder Suzanne Gwynn is quoted extensively in Slate.com's American Children Deserve a Better Death 
 
She was also interviewed by KUOW Public Radio , Seattle's NPR member station. Listen to A vision to improve treatment for terminally ill children in Seattle

Suzanne Gywnn and Jason Sears

Thank you Jason Sears , executive director of Northwest Sarcoma Foundation, who is collaborating with us to help the community.  

Dr. Erin Harper gave a passionate presentation at last month's Conversations That Matter event. We also want to thank her mother and brother William Harper for joining the discussion.

Continued thanks to Christine Wallace-Means from Leukemia Lymphoma Society and to Swedish Hospital Cherry Hill for providing us with a venue to host Conversations That Matter.
Help families and children celebrate every day by supporting Ladybug House. To learn how you can contribute to the mission, email  info@ladybughouse.org .
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