After volunteering years ago with a pediatric hospice team, Tara O’Donnell felt called to serve children and their families in the medical setting.
“I believe the greatest gift we can give to hospice patients and their families is our time, attention and love,” says O’Donnell. “As a child life specialist, I am able to provide dedicated support to the children of the families we serve.”
O’Donnell helps children process what can be one of the most difficult times in their life—whether it’s assisting them in understanding their loved one’s end-of-life journey or supporting them through their time of bereavement.
“First and foremost, I am a trusted individual a child can count on when trying to communicate their feelings, normalize the hospice environment or capture memories with their family,” says O’Donnell. “I’m here as a navigator to assist with any questions, concerns or requests the child may have along the way.”
To learn more about BridgingLife’s services, call 410-871-8000.
From the fall 2022 issue of DASH, BridgingLife’s community magazine.