Suzanne has served as a critical care nurse for more than 30 years, in both the United States and Canada. During the first decade of her career, she served medically fragile patients who suffered from a variety of life limiting diseases in acute care settings. These experiences solidified her dedication to the field and encouraged her desire to specialize. It’s been 20 years since Suzanne began to focus primarily on bone marrow transplant, hematology/oncology and hospice care. She’s worked with Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center’s, Seattle Cancer Care Alliance, Seattle Children’s Hospital, Providence Hospice and Swedish Medical Center. Working with patients spanning the age spectrum, from newborn to the elderly, and playing a critical role in the consideration and support of their families — Suzanne concluded long ago that there was a desperate need for respite and end-of-life care outside the hospital setting.
Suzanne is determined to provide a home-away-from-home for young patients and their families offering physical, emotional, psychological and spiritual support. Providing an environment and experience that focuses on the comfort and state of mind of patients and their families in the face of losing a loved one is a vision she has dreamed of and been in the process of breathing life into for many years now. Suzanne cherishes her role as mother — with two children of her own — and two grandchildren. She also embraced two foster children into her family for more than 9 years. She values family and friends in her life and is always eager to share time and to make memories with them. She believes good memories are something all should enjoy and her determination to help facilitate that for all is a significant factor in her drive to see Ladybug House thrive. Suzanne’s compassion, professional expertise, and abundance of direct experience provide an integral core to this project and her role as Director.