Pediatric palliative care is an active, total approach to relieve pain and suffering by embracing physical, emotional and spiritual elements of care with a focus on maximizing quality of life for children with serious illness and their families. Palliative care is appropriate for pediatric patients of any age at any point of their illness. This includes children undergoing treatment for curable conditions, those living with chronic diseases, as well as pediatric patients who are nearing the end of life.

Our Palliative Care Team is known throughout the hospital as the Sunflower Kids Team, named in honor of the most resilient of all flowers. Sunflowers grow and flourish in any kind of soil, demonstrating resilience and grace just like the incredible patients and families we have the privilege of serving. On the days when the sun is not shining, sunflowers lean towards each other for support. Here at Connecticut Children’s, our Sunflower Kids Palliative Care Team uses a multidisciplinary approach to provide an extra layer of support to patients and their families to develop a plan of care in line with your wishes and values. Our goal is to relieve pain and stress and meet the emotional, social and spiritual needs of your child and family to make each day be the best day it can be.

In addition to pediatric palliative care, our team offers perinatal palliative care services for families who have learned that their baby has a life-altering or life-threatening condition. We may be asked to meet with you during your pregnancy. During these visits we will take the time to learn about you, your family and your baby. We can help families share their values and what is most important to them with the rest of the medical team.  

How We Serve You

Our Sunflower Kids Palliative Care Team supports you by:

  • Facilitating communication between your family and your child’s healthcare providers
  • Assisting with decision making to ensure the plan being developed best reflect your values, goals, and preferences
  • Holistically managing symptoms to relieve discomfort and distress
  • Providing an extra layer of support along your child’s illness journey
  • Coordinating care across multiple settings (inpatient, outpatient, home)
  • Support services if end of life care is needed
  • Bereavement care for families

Meet Our Team

Taryn J. Hamre, DNP, APRN, FNP-BC, CPHON

Nurse Practitioner, Pain Medicine
Illustration of a doctor

Kerry Moss, MD

Pediatric Hematologist/Oncologist

Clare Riotte, DO

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Mallory Fossa, APRN

Taylor Aglio, MD

Palliative Physician

Shannon Michel Wynn, MD

Palliative Physician
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How to Reach Our Team

If your child is hospitalized at Connecticut Children’s, ask the physician on your primary team for a consult with our team.

If your child is currently at home, you could ask any of your child's medical providers for a referral to our team.

Contact us: 860.837.5370

Patient and Family Resources

We have gathered resources that may help as you navigate your child’s illness journey:

Courageous Parents Network

Courageous Parents Network is self-paced resource dedicated to equipping and empowering those caring for children with a serious medical condition through education, community building, and advocacy. 

NeuroJourney

NeuroJourney is an online, self-paced resource that provides caregivers of children with severe neurological impairment with guidance and education to empower them in enhancing their child’s care experience.
 

Community Outreach and Advocacy

Family Advisory Council 

The Sunflower Kids Family Advisory Council at Connecticut Children’s is a dedicated group of parents who have navigated serious pediatric illness alongside their children and bring unique insights from their experiences. Council members share valuable parent and patient perspectives to help shape and strengthen the delivery of compassionate, family-centered care by our team. The Council plays a vital role in ensuring that the voices of families are heard and integrated into the development of policies, practices and special events lead by our team.

Pediatric Palliative Care Coalition of Connecticut

The Pediatric Palliative Care Coalition of Connecticut aims to advance palliative care services for children and their families through advocacy, education, and expanded access to quality care. 
 

Thank You to Our Donors

Our Sunflower Kids Palliative Care Team receives many generous donations which allow us to better support children and their families. We are grateful to provide our patients and their families with books, blankets, toiletries, coffee and tea, socks, gift cards, and other comfort related items thanks to our wonderful donors.