HEALTAHR TCARE
Supporting Families
Through the Unimaginable
MAY/JUNE 2017 | TAMPA BAY MAGAZINE 137
I believe the image most people conjure
up when they hear the word hospice is
that of an elderly person, someone who
has likely lived a long, memorable life.
Clearly, the vast majority of our hospice
patients would fit into that category. But far
fewer people think about babies when they
think of hospice: babies who will die before
they are born or who will be diagnosed
with a life-limiting condition that means
they won’t live long after birth.
This is a devastating, unimaginably
painful time for families who have to go
through this. And while many families
may seek the services of counseling to
deal with this type of loss, Suncoast
Hospice is fortunate enough to have
a perinatal loss program to assist
families before, during and after their
pregnancies resulting in the loss of their
baby. The Empath Health Perinatal Loss
Program supports mothers and families
who may experience or have experienced
a pregnancy loss, stillbirth or death of a
baby shortly after birth. Services include
coordination of care at the hospital; spiritual
care, social work support, grief support,
assistance with decision making, planning
and memory-making activities; doula
volunteer assistance (birth companions
who help throughout the birth process);
and other trained volunteer support.
Chris and Mandy Sheridan utilized
the services of our perinatal loss program
and our volunteer doula, Karen Jackson.
Karen and Suncoast Hospice continued
to be a resource for the Sheridans after
the birth of their son with grief counseling
and assistance with how to handle
the death of their infant son. “We didn’t
know what to expect. We were so lost––or
at least I was, and didn’t know where to go.
Without the services of Suncoast Hospice,
I really don’t know where we would be,”
Chris Sherdian shared.
The Sheridans courageously share their
story because they want to help spread the
word about all the programs and services
available through Suncoast Hospice.
“There are so many programs other than
what the hospice name means––programs
most people don’t know about,” Mandy
said.
We are honored to have served the
Sheridans through their journey and feel
privileged to have been a part of so many
patients’ and families’ lives during the
past 40 years of serving the Pinellas County
community.
For more information about Suncoast
Hospice, a member of Empath Health, visit
EmpathHealth.org or call (727) 467-7423. 9
EDITOR’S NOTE: Rafael J. Sciullo is
president and CEO of Empath Health, a
nonprofit integrated network of care for
those affected by chronic or advanced illness.
For more information about services, call
(727) 467-7423 or visit EmpathHealth.org.
By Rafael J. Sciullo
Rafael J. Sciullo
When Mandy was 18 weeks pregnant,
the Sheridans found out their son had a
condition that was “incompatible with
life”––meaning he would not live long after
birth. After their diagnosis, they reached
out to Suncoast Hospice for assistance.
Karen immediately contacted them and
began to assist in any way possible.
According to Mandy, “Karen became
my confidante, my support, my shoulder
to cry on, my absolute everything in the
worst times possible.” Karen provided the
Sheridans with childbirth education before
their son was born; she held Mandy’s
hand through the entire birth; and
subsequently through the baby’s passing.
While the Sheridan’s son Jake only lived for
39 minutes, Karen helped make it possible
for the Sheridans to create a few special
memories they will forever cherish during
the short time they had with Jake.
/EmpathHealth.org
/EmpathHealth.org