Helping Kids With Serious Illness

Care for children with life-limiting illness

Every day with your child is a gift. You and your child deserve to enjoy that gift to the fullest extent possible. We developed our Kourageous Kids program with that goal in mind. Our pediatric team provides individualized care for your child and support for each member of your family. We also offer education and guidance so you can feel confident caring for your child. Since 1980, we’ve helped children and their families live cope with life-limiting illness. We can help you.

Does my child qualify for Kourageous Kids?

Any child with a serious or life-limiting illness may be eligible for Kourageous Kids. The program accepts referrals 24 hours a day. Parents may call us, and we’ll make the appropriate arrangements with their child’s physician. Doctors may also refer to us directly.

What programs does Kourageous Kids offer?

Kourageous Kids offers two specialized programs for children and their families depending on their individual needs:

Palliative Care Program – provides care based on collaboration with the Kourageous Kids team and the child’s doctor or medical team. Children in this program continue to seek curative treatment.

Hospice Program – provides symptom management/pain control and care for a child who is expected to live six months or less if the disease runs its normal course. A doctor’s order is needed for admission to this program. Children in this program continue to seek curative treatment.

Services

Our services are provided by a team of healthcare professionals with many years of experience in pediatrics. Let our Kourageous Kids team help you and your family determine what services best meet your needs:

Control of symptoms such as nausea, pain, vomiting, shortness of breath and restlessness

Medication management

Counseling and spiritual support for patients, siblings and families

On-call nurse, chaplain and social worker available 24 hours

Referral to other community agencies

Celebrating life

While our primary role is to provide care, comfort and counseling, we also believe everyone needs and deserves time to relax, restore and celebrate life. In addition to helping families navigate through a complex and – at times – difficult-to-understand medical system, the Kourageous Kids program provides opportunities for the entire family to enjoy special moments together. Some of these activities include visits to the Louisville Zoo, theater, baseball games, fishing trips and holiday parties.

How do I pay for Kourageous Kids services?

Kourageous Kids accepts Medicare, Medicaid and many forms of private insurance. Fee for services is based on a sliding fee scale according to a family's ability to pay. Thanks to donations, the Hosparus Health Kourageous Kids program cares for children with life-limiting illness regardless of their families’ ability to pay for services.

These organizations and many others support our Kourageous Kids program.