Since 2019, Carolina Caring Cardinal Kids has provided critical pediatric palliative and hospice care to more than 400 children and their families. While each child’s medical journey is unique, all share one fundamental need: compassionate, expert care that honors their lives and supports their families every step of the way.
At Cardinal Kids, we know that quality pediatric care goes beyond clinical excellence. It requires presence, partnership, and listening to what families want for their child and for the home. That’s why our team has long aligned its practices with the highest national standards of pediatric care, including those outlined by the Community Health Accreditation Partner (CHAP).
In 2025, Cardinal Kids became the first hospice organization in North Carolina to receive CHAP’s Pediatric Care at Home Certification. This milestone affirms what our patients and families already know: our program delivers care that is not only clinically focused, but also family-oriented, deeply personal, and rooted in hope.
For the Cardinal Kids team, seeking the CHAP Pediatric Care at Home Certification wasn’t about achieving something new—it was about sharing the best practices we deliver to every patient, every day. As Cardinal Kids Director Emily Scholler explained, “The benchmarks CHAP presented were already in place at our program. Why not show CHAP how great this pediatric program is?”
As part of the CHAP preparation process, our team assessed, developed, and showcased a model of care that’s always been central to who we are. We presented this model to CHAP surveyors as “A Focus on L.I.F.E.”
- Listening to what is important
- Integrating into the child’s team
- Family-focused
- Embracing milestones
And, ultimately, creating opportunities for children to experience joy despite their serious illness.
Our team wanted to do more than present a model of care, however; we wanted the CHAP surveyors to witness this high-quality care in action. With the permission of one Cardinal Kids family, the Browns, CHAP joined a routine visit to our patient’s home. What the surveyor observed that day—clear communication, heartfelt connection, and care tailored to the uniqueness of one little girl—left a lasting impression.
That little girl is Harper Brown.
When Harper and her twin sister, Emma, were born, the Browns wanted nothing more than for their little girls to have a healthy, happy life. It was a shocking and frightening experience when their mother, Kristen, learned that Harper was born with a genetic condition that introduced complex medical needs.
Harper is only the 20th person to be diagnosed with her genetic condition. While Kristen is a nurse by profession, her background is not in pediatric care—especially not in managing a condition as unique as Harper’s. Recognizing the challenges ahead, the Browns received a referral to Cardinal Kids.
Kristen describes the journey as powerful metaphor:
“Imagine you have received a once-in-a-lifetime, all-expenses-paid trip to Italy. But when your plane lands, you realize you have arrived in Holland. Holland is not Italy—but it’s beautiful in its own way. Visiting Holland gives you places and people you never would have encountered otherwise.”
From the moment the Browns “landed” in the world of Hospice care, Cardinal Kids has kept their focus on what is most important: making Harper’s life better.
Within months of meeting Harper’s highly skilled team of pediatric nurses, a social worker, a chaplain, a nurse practitioner, and the guidance of Cardinal Kids Pediatrician Dr. Brooke Hata, a comprehensive care plan was in place. The team worked with the Browns to address the unique goals that the family envisioned for Harper. Dr. Hata also reached out to Harper’s specialists directly, ensuring that this care plan would be implemented across the board.
Having this extra layer of support brings Kristen and her family a great sense of peace. And now, after years of working together, the Browns see Cardinal Kids as part of their family. If the Browns have questions or concerns, they can count on their team to serve as a listening ear. If Harper needs additional care during the weekends, at least one team member at Cardinal Kids will answer the call.
“It is special to know that your team will be there to help you during times when no one else is really available or open,” Kristen shares.
During the home visit, the CHAP surveyor commented on how personalized and attentive the team was as they provided care. The nurses are ready to cheer on Harper’s bubbly personality as often as they are ready to address her medical needs. They honor Harper’s bond with her twin sister, Emma, and they validate Emma’s desire to help take care of Harper.
“Harper is amazing,” says Kristen. “She is always happy. Rarely do you see her getting sad or upset—and now, Emma is building her own comfort level with the team. It’s clear that Cardinal Kids doesn’t just impact Harper; they’ve left a lasting impression on Emma, too.”
Emma loves when the nurses and social workers come over for their weekly visits. She will greet them at the front door, take their hand, and share her excitement about what happened at school or other activities happening in the Browns’ home.
Shawna Duckworth, Pediatric Nurse, Cardinal Kids, is one of Harper’s nurses who attended the home visit with the CHAP surveyors. She is a firm believer in the team’s multifaceted L.I.F.E. approach, not just as a framework, but as a philosophy that guides every decision the team makes.
“By recognizing what is important to each family,” says Duckworth, “along with collaborating care across the board, our teams are able to help families embrace the milestones that matter most to them—no matter how small or how big.”
Although Harper’s condition requires frequent medical care, it’s the joyful milestones that leave the brightest impact on her life. Cardinal Kids joins Harper and her family in celebrating holidays or other personal milestones. On Harper’s birthday, a team member surprised her with a beautiful balloon bouquet. And on other occasions, Harper and Emma cherish gifts such as LovEvolve blankets, Beads of Courage, and additional memory-making items made possible through Cardinal Kids partnerships.
“The L.I.F.E. Model is a great reminder for all of us about what we do and why we do it,” says Dr. Hata. “We want to honor lives, serve families, and create memories—all while caring for the patient’s physical needs.”
Becoming the first hospice in North Carolina to earn CHAP’s Pediatric Care at Home Certification is a milestone, but it is not the finish line. It’s a reflection of something deeper: the quiet, powerful impact we have on the lives of children and families walking through the hardest chapters of their story.
As we reach more patients and families, we remain grounded in what matters most—attentive care that honors every child’s journey and helps families fill each day with love, joy, and meaning.
Compassionate care is the heart of who we are. And it will always be our purpose.
