By: Molly Gillespie
RN Case Manager at Kansas City Hospice
Thanks to the T22 McDuffie Foundation and the Carousel Pediatric Care team, the families of Kansas City Hospice & Palliative Care’s youngest patients made lifelong memories on June 20, 2025. Our precious little patients, along with their families, got a break from the monotony of their daily routines–medication, therapy, transfusions, and vitals–to be treated to a private event as VIPs at the Kansas City Zoo & Aquarium.
Twenty families joined us for the day, and many are still talking about it. During later visits, parents shared how much joy, laughter, and normalcy it brought their children. For some, it was the first time in a long while that the whole family could simply enjoy being together. Many of the parents in the Carousel program are not financially able to give their children these types of experiences. Most of their time and resources go to the medical needs of their child. With the help of the T22 Foundation, these families made memories they can cherish for years to come.
A Day Full of Wonder
Before the park opened to the public, families were welcomed at the zoo entrance by a happy dancing sea otter, a silly stingray, and the familiar faces of the Carousel nurses. Together—on foot and aboard a whimsical zebra tram—they made their way to the new Sobela Ocean Aquarium. And waiting just inside to greet our little superstars was the foundation’s founder, who also happens to be the star cornerback of the Kansas City Chiefs, Trent McDuffie.
The look on the faces of the spouses and children left in the dark about Trent’s involvement was the highlight for many!
The morning was spent with Trent chatting and connecting with the kids and parents as they wandered through the 34 different habitats the aquarium provides. One of the most exciting stops was the chilly touch tank, home to leathery sea stars, pokey urchins, and pink anemones. One particularly enthusiastic anemone mistook a Carousel nurse’s finger for a new roommate and just wouldn’t let go.
After everyone was settled in, Owin and Matti, the resident sea otters, delighted the children by performing a private show. Their stage was set up perfectly by the
zoo staff to accommodate all sizes and abilities. When the show was over, the families were treated to a buffet of breakfast burritos and coffee.
Right before everyone could finish eating, one of the animal ambassadors, Jasari, an African crested porcupine, came to say, “Hello.” With big eyes and bigger smiles from everyone there, children and adults alike, we finished the morning at the aquarium surrounded by swirly eels, bouncing jellyfish, and not too scary sharks. Ending the day, each family left with a goodie bag full of goodies and zoo passes provided by Hayley Hanson and Husch Blackwell, a baggie filled with donut holes by Mr. D’s Donuts, and several items signed by Trent McDuffie (#22). It was a truly magical day for everyone who came!
Everyone Felt So Special
Giving these families a morning of fun, laughter, and feeling seen was at the heart of it all. Understanding the unique challenges for our families is something that not many people think about. Finding ways to balance the attention between the child experiencing illness and the siblings who are not can be impossible. Sometimes healthy family members tend to get overlooked.
One of the core purposes of this event was to make sure the entire family felt seen. McDuffie was incredible with both our patients and their siblings—kneeling beside them, meeting their eyes, and bringing out a light in each one. But the impact didn’t stop there. As someone who knows the weight of loss, McDuffie shared that his time at the zoo healed something in him, too. The day wasn’t just about giving back—it was about being present with kids whose journeys, in many ways, mirror his own. It wasn’t just meaningful. It was personal. The Carousel team even received a letter of appreciation later that day from the T22 Foundation with the subject: “Still smiling.”
The Carousel team looks forward to working with the T22 foundation in the future to provide more opportunities to our petite patients and their families.
To read more about this event and view additional photos please click here.