What would you do if your baby was born with a complex medical condition?
How would it feel to know that there is a family of loved ones ready to walk with you every step of the way?
When an infant or child is diagnosed with serious illness, many families are surprised to discover that they can make informed, personal decisions about their child’s care. Cardinal Kids is a pediatric palliative medicine and hospice program designed to help every child find joy despite their serious illness. Cardinal Kids consists of a comprehensive team of clinical staff, bereavement counselors, social workers, and chaplains who are committed to supporting each child—and the child’s family—through challenging times.
As we continue to grow, we seek to partner with organizations that uphold our mission of compassionate care.
One such partner organization is LovEvolve.
Founded and designed by professional artist Sunny Goode, LovEvolve is a mission-driven organization producing scarves, blankets, and swaddles which hold creative attention to color theory and the message of love. The mission of LovEvolve is to inspire healthier families, safer relationships, and stronger communities by spreading love through meaningful experiences. Since its establishment in 2019, LovEvolve has leveraged partnerships in the healthcare field to help its beautiful message reach parents and infants before they leave the delivery room. To date, LovEvolve has distributed their products across thirteen hospitals nationwide, allowing over 61,000 newborns to be wrapped in love.
Recognizing the significance of this message, Cardinal Kids began distributing LovEvolve blankets and swaddles to our hospice patients in December 2024. Though these items are a recent addition to our story, families have already shared that these gifts bring lasting meaning to their hospice experience.
These blankets are memory makers, reminding families of the impact that their child has had on this world. Sometimes, parents use the blankets whenever they spend the night with their children at the hospice house. The blankets have also been regifted to siblings as a tangible reminder of their brother or sister.
The visual cue of love has been a source of peace for many of our Pediatric nurses, as well. Nurses have remarked on the quality of LovEvolve’s materials: how soft the muslin and fleece feel to the wearer, and how warm yet lightweight the blankets are. Shawna Duckworth, a Homecare RN, has been delighted to see the blankets being used by Cardinal Kids patients and their families in the home. She has met one patient who uses her blanket during naptime and every night when she goes to bed. Another family places their LovEvolve blanket over their floor playmat, so that their child can stay comfy during playtime.
And in the hospice house, there are families who cherish these cuddly, colorful gifts so much that they choose to wrap their children up in these blankets during their final moments.
“As part of the pediatric care team, it fills my heart to see these children snuggled in their blankets,” a nurse says. “Knowing that they symbolize how much we care for them and that they are wrapped in love brings so much joy.”
Beyond palliative and hospice care, Cardinal Kids offers clinical support to parents and infants through our prenatal program. The prenatal program is designed for babies who receive a life-limiting diagnosis and may require continued support of care after birth. Our team works diligently with the family to discuss the baby’s medical needs, the parents’ special requests, and the development of a tailored birth plan. The birth plan helps families think about the different options available for their baby’s care.
After the baby is born, Cardinal Kids will continue to support the infant in a way that honors the family’s requests. This includes memory-making gifts such as the LovEvolve Grief Swaddle.
Using delicate colors and the same comforting message, Grief Swaddles acknowledge the heartbreak that comes with losing an infant—expectedly or unexpectedly. The visual cue reminds parents that their Cardinal Kids family, and their loved ones, are ready to support them through their loss.
“Sometimes, when you’re overwhelmed, you don’t want to talk…you just want to be wrapped in love,” says Goode. “The Grief Swaddle is an acknowledgement that those families need relationship health and support just as much as they would for any other birth. It’s a way of showing families that they are not alone, that their child’s life is recognized, honored, and well-loved.”
No matter the circumstances of a baby’s birth, the presence of this little life changes the roles and relationships that people have with one another. People become more than husband or wife, daughter, or son—they also become mothers, fathers, siblings, and grandparents. As much joy as these new roles can bring, it is also common for people to feel overwhelmed by these changes. Sometimes we need to remember that no matter what roles we play, relationships rely on compassionate care.
Grief Swaddles, just like any LovEvolve blanket, serve as a visual reminder that there is a support circle ready to offer help, even when parents are unsure how to ask for it.
Our partnership is a beautiful example of what happens when we work together in supportive care. We hope to continue in our shared vision, equipping each other to help patients, parents, and siblings find comfort and hope during their time of greatest need.
“Having the LovEvolve blankets and swaddles to give to our patients is so special and symbolizes just a small token of the compassion that we strive to share with all of the kids and families in our care,” says Emily Scholler, Director, Cardinal Kids. “It can be humbling to remember that sometimes, in such difficult moments, the best way you can support patients and families is to be a quiet presence full of love.”
