The Story Behind The Mitten: One Family’s Journey Changed Everything

Every great mission begins with a moment that changes everything.

For The Mitten Pediatric Palliative & Hospice Foundation, that moment happened more than a decade ago.

Heather Kluemper had spent the day caring for a beautiful 21-month-old boy named Finegan in the comfort of his family's home. As a pediatric hospice nurse, she knew his time was drawing near. When her 12-hour shift came to an end, she prepared to leave.

Finegan's parents stopped her. With unimaginable fear and heartbreak intheir voices, they made one simple request:

"Please don't leave us."

In that moment, Heather faced a choice. She could clock out because her shift was over, or she could stay—not because she was required to, but because one family needed someone to walk beside them through the most painful night of their lives. She stayed.

Six hours later, as Finegan's exhausted parents rested for a brief moment, their son took his final breath in Heather's arms. Afterward, Heather gently bathed him, removed every piece of medical equipment, dressed him in clean clothes, and made sure he looked like the peaceful baby his parents wanted to remember. She gave them the precious gift of saying goodbye without tubes, machines, or clinical reminders surrounding them.

Then, while the family began grieving together, Heather quietly carried every piece of medical equipment out of the home so that, when they looked around, they would see memories of their son—not memories of his illness.

Only after everything was done did she walk outside, sit alone in her car, and allow herself to cry.

On a napkin that night, she wrote two words: The Mitten.

She made herself a promise. One day, no family would ever have to beg someone to stay.

One day, Michigan families would have a place where children with life-limiting illnesses could spend their final days surrounded by comfort, dignity, love, and expert care—not because a nurse chose to volunteer her time, but because that level of compassionate support would simply exist.

That promise became The Mitten Pediatric Palliative & Hospice Foundation.

Today, we are working to build Michigan's first residential pediatric hospice home—a home where children from birth through age 21 and their families will receive compassionate, family-centered care during life's most difficult journey. A place where parents can simply be parents. Where siblings can make memories. Where every child is treated with dignity. Where families never have to face goodbye alone. Because every child deserves comfort. Every family deserves unwavering support. And no one should ever have to say, "Please don't leave us."

“Our experience showed us the profound difference compassionate nursing care can make for a family. Heather not only gave me the opportunity to be Finn’s momma, but offered love and hugs and validated my fears, held my hand and cried with me. Every parent deserves the opportunity to spend their child’s final days as a mom or dad, not as a full-time medical provider.”