November 21, 2024
This November, as we observe National Hospice and Palliative Care Month, St. Mary’s Healthcare System for Children proudly celebrates 40 years of palliative care, a milestone that reflects our commitment to providing compassionate, innovative support to children with complex medical needs and their families.
Palliative care at St. Mary’s goes beyond medical treatment, ensuring every child experiences comfort, dignity, and joy. This dedication shines through in the stories of the incredible professionals who make it happen, like our Palliative Massage Therapist, Michael Matos, who uniquely creates nurturing and healing experiences for our children. “Our sense of touch is one of the primary ways we engage with the world,” Matos explains. “My goal is to help our patients process touch in a safe and nurturing way.”
With a specialization in non-pharmacological pain relief and comfort care, Michael Matos founded St. Mary’s Sensory Lab, a groundbreaking initiative designed to use technology and therapy to create rich sensory worlds for children to explore. He is also an active member of our Comfort Champions team.
Finding Calm in Uncertainty: The Essence of Palliative Care
Michael shares what enhances their role within the palliative care team: “The realm of palliative care offers physical, emotional, and spiritual services throughout the child’s journey, with the goal of pain/symptom management and QUALITY of Life. To do this work, you must be grounded and find comfort in the chaos and strength in the unknown. Being a beacon of calm in the cacophony is a great asset.” This ability to provide stability and peace, even in the most challenging moments, is at the heart of their work.
The Miracles in Mundane Moments
For Michael, the greatest joy comes from the children themselves: “There is a simple beauty and bliss that bubbles forth from these children—a sacred trust that needs to be earned every day. It’s the myriad of seemingly mundane moments that they elevate to the miraculous. To be in their presence is humbling and inspiring.”
Lessons in Presence and Purpose
The children at St. Mary’s teach profound lessons about life: “Working here has taught me the importance of being present and immersed in the now. These children remind me that there is magic everywhere—that we are tiny bubbles of order in an ocean of entropy, coming together in this unique array only once in the lifespan of the universe.”
A Team Driven by Compassion
The strength of St. Mary’s palliative care lies not only in its mission but also in its people. Michael reflects on the rewards of their work: “The quest to provide joy or comfort in a child’s life is a gift that keeps on giving. The Palliative Team at St. Mary’s is driven by compassion and care. Through our work, we learn from one another, these children we serve, and their families to be the best we can be to maximize quality of life. A passion burns within us to continue this privileged and sacred work of serving these incredible children and their families.”
This National Hospice and Palliative Care Month, we celebrate the extraordinary work of our palliative care team and honor the children and families who inspire us daily. Together, we will continue to find magic in the moments and joy in the journey.
