NEW ORLEANS (press release) – Children’s Hospital New Orleans recently celebrated the opening of “Bella’s Room,” a ComfortCareSM suite designed to serve as a sanctuary for children in need of end-of-life care and their families. Bella’s Room, which was made possible through the support of the Bella Bowman Foundation, consists of a three-room suite located on the 6th floor of the hospital with views of the Mississippi River.
According to Children’s Hospital, Bella’s Room will amplify the level of care that the Palliative Care team at Children’s provides for patients and families nearing end of life, as an oasis for patients and their families. The suite provides a comforting, home-like environment with a patient room to continue medical care for the child, an adjourning room designed for families to sleep and experience respite, a private bathroom and a third room that serves as a gathering place for extended family and friends.
“With the generous support of the Bella Bowman Foundation, honoring Bella’s lasting legacy, Bella’s Room will transform the way children and families across Louisiana and the Gulf South experience serious illness and end of life care,” said Lindsey Casey, RN, senior vice president and chief nursing officer for Children’s Hospital, said in a release. “This beautiful space will help our team provide family-centered end of life care, while offering a comfortable and serene home-like setting for the entire family to be a part of the care experience.”
“This signifies 13 years since Bella’s passing and this very special project honors Bella’s legacy,” said Trey Bowman, president of the Bella Bowman Foundation and Bella’s father. “We are incredibly proud to see this vision come to life, and to know that Bella’s Room will help provide an additional level of ComfortCareSM and support for patients and families facing palliative and end-of-life care.”
Bella’s Room was designed by architecture firm EskewDumezRipple+ and constructed by Fidelis Construction. The ComfortCareSM suite allows for expert, compassionate medical care, relieving some of the discomfort and stress of illness, while offering psychosocial support to the family, and the time and space to focus on making every moment as meaningful as possible.
“We are grateful for the commitment of the Bella Bowman Foundation to take their difficult journey and in return do something incredibly positive for others facing similar unimaginable experiences,” says Dr. Ashley Autrey, service line chief for Pediatric Palliative Care at Children’s Hospital. “The Bella Bowman Foundation’s generous commitment will help our team deliver countless meaningful experiences for families that will last a lifetime.”
The Pelican Krewe at Children’s Hospital consists of a Pediatric Palliative Care team of doctors, nurses, social workers, spiritual care experts, integrative therapists and music therapy to care for the body, mind and spirit of children and families living with serious illnesses. The team provides palliative care to patients of any age and at any stage of serious illness, supporting treatment for underlying illnesses while striving for the best possible quality of life to make each day the best day possible.
To learn more about the Pelican Krewe and Children’s Hospital visit chnola.org.
