11:30am | For the second year in a row, friends, families and community members will come together for the Palliative Care Program Pursuit Walk. The walk is being held to raise awareness of palliative care, a specialized area of care offering physical and emotional support and comfort to pediatric patients with chronic or serious illnesses, as well as to raise funds to expand the supportive/palliative care program at Miller Children’s. The palliative care program improves “quality of life” for children with life-threatening illness and to better address the physical, psychological, social and spiritual needs of pediatric patients and families.

“Our goal is to assure that every child has a meaningful life, and that they have the opportunity to live that life free of pain or other symptoms of discomfort engulfed by the families and communities that love them, for as long as possible,” says Joetta Wallace, NP, Pediatric Supportive Palliative Care Program, Miller Children’s Hospital Long Beach.

The Walk was founded by Rachel Llanos who is one of more than 100 parents whose family has benefited from the supportive/palliative care program. Her daughter, Kellie, had a rare chromosomal abnormality called Trisomy 13 that led to heart problems and the need for constant care at Miller Children’s throughout her life. Although Kellie has passed away the Llanos family was deeply touched by the supportive/palliative care program, which provided comfort to Kellie and her entire family. When it was time, Kellie was able to pass away peacefully at home surrounded by family. Rachel’s goal is to raise funds to support the supportive/palliative care program so they can continue to provide future patients and families with the same compassionate care.

“I was so touched by palliative care I wondered why more people in the community didn’t know about it,” says Rachel Llanos, supportive/palliative care advocate and parent, Miller Children’s. “I want to be able to help other families have access to a program that ensures a child’s comfort and needs are met.”

The Palliative Care Pursuit Walk will be held on Saturday, March 10, starting at 10 a.m., at El Dorado Park East in Long Beach. Registration is $20 and goes to benefit the palliative care program through online fundraising. Visit MillerChildrens.org/pursuit to register online or support a walker.