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Philstar.com
October 23, 2026 | 3:30pm
MANILA, Philippines — For the Safdieh family, pediatric home nursing means Saulie can enjoy more of childhood while his mother has support in caring for his complex medical needs.
At preschool, Saulie Safdieh gets to do what children his age do: play, learn, and spend time with his classmates. Supporting him are Cherryl Bordonado and Catherine Macarandang, two Filipino nurses from Towne Kids who alternate shifts to help manage his medical needs and support his participation in everyday childhood experiences.
Saulie’s congenital heart condition was diagnosed when his mother, Abagael Safdieh, was 20 weeks pregnant. Days after his birth in 2022, he underwent his first open-heart surgery and spent time in the cardiac intensive care unit. Coming home was an important milestone, but his medical needs continued. Even everyday routines, from meals and medication to playtime, required extra care.
Abagael wanted her son to have the opportunity to learn and enjoy being a child. Finding people she could trust to help manage his care became an important part of making that possible.
That search led the Safdieh family to Towne Kids, which provides pediatric home nursing support to families in the United States. Initially, the family received eight hours of nursing support a day. As Saulie’s needs evolved, that increased to 20 hours daily, with nurses covering morning and overnight shifts.
As part of his care team, Cherryl and Catherine take turns providing nursing support, helping monitor Saulie’s oxygen levels, observe how he responds to physical activity, and attend to his needs, including medication and feeding. Their familiarity with his condition and daily routines helps support his participation in preschool activities and time with his classmates.
“My son absolutely loves them,” Abagael said.
Over time, Cherryl and Catherine have also become familiar faces in the Safdieh family’s daily life, sharing in everyday routines and special moments involving Saulie and his sisters.
For Abagael, having trusted nursing support has helped her continue working while giving Saulie more opportunities to attend preschool, spend time with his sisters, and enjoy the experiences that are part of growing up.
Cherryl and Catherine are among the 303 nurses Towne Kids has placed across New Jersey and Massachusetts since 2021, connecting Filipino nurses with professional opportunities in the United States.
Their work with Saulie illustrates the role pediatric nurses play in helping children with complex medical needs participate in everyday life. Alongside their clinical responsibilities, they work with families to provide care that takes into account each child’s needs, routines, and development.
For Towne Kids CEO Mindy Tyner, trust is central to that relationship.
“Caring for a child at home takes more than clinical skills. It takes patience, trust, and an understanding of what a family goes through every day. We want families to feel that their child is in capable hands, and we want nurses to be treated as professionals whose work makes a real difference in people’s lives,” Tyner said.
That commitment begins with clear communication about a nursing role, its responsibilities, and the terms of employment. Giving nurses a clear understanding of these arrangements helps them make informed decisions about their careers and establishes a sound foundation for the working relationships that support families.
Saulie’s medical journey remains uncertain, but he continues to have opportunities to attend preschool, spend time with his classmates, and make memories with his sisters, with nursing support helping his family manage his daily care.
For the Safdieh family, pediatric home nursing means more than meeting Saulie’s medical needs. It means helping him experience more of childhood while giving his mother greater peace of mind.
And sometimes, as Abagael’s words make clear, the difference is reflected in something simple: a little boy who loves the nurses who help care for him.
Editor’s Note: This press release from Towne Kids is published by the Advertising Content Team that is independent from our Editorial Newsroom.
