Kahla Gagne’s Story

As a pediatric palliative care nurse practitioner, I help with symptom management for patients with life-limiting or life-threatening diseases. Palliative care doesn’t always lead to hospice, or end-of-life care. We are able to help patients and their families improve their quality of life and we do see patients get better. I think of it as walking with patients and family members through their journey when they are facing a very difficult situation. I knew I wanted to be a part of this journey from a young age as a result of my own medical experiences.

What I find most rewarding about my work is getting to know patients and their families over time. We are able to develop relationships and go through the peaks and valleys together – I have a pager with me 24/7 and am always available for them. I especially love going on home visits and seeing my patients in a normal life setting, when they are at their best.

Many people at UH Rainbow come together to develop care plans for our patients. I love the collaborative effort and the variety that each day brings. I really feel I am doing the work I was meant to do and I was honored to recently be named the 2018 Ohio March of Dimes Nurse of the Year for Hospice and Palliative Care.