Aster Guardians

Teressa

Teresa Fraga

Associação Nomeiodonada IPSS,

Portugal

As a neonatal nurse, Teresa Fraga noticed that children with chronic illnesses did not have a support system. She decided to act and established KASTELO – a palliative care unit in Portugal for children with chronic illnesses. Her goal is to provide quality care with innovation, arranging strategies to promote the quality of life of these children. Using innovation in nursing care, the centre offers bronchial cleaning, pain reduction, or better organisation of muscle activity. It also gives them opportunities for cognitive development with various leisure, sensory, and musical activities. She has also developed a water park for the children, which serves as leisure and support for therapies in the water. Making palliative care for children a community effort, she uses adapted theater, animation groups for children's birthday parties, and hippotherapy. Teresa’s efforts for KASTELO got her a recognition award from the European Union.