Stories From 20 Years of Coastal Kids Home Care Serving the Children of Monterey County

Every morning, five-year-old daphne wakes up surrounded by stuffed animals and the soft hum of the ventilator that helps her breathe. Thanks to her palliative care team, Daphne and her parents receive vital in-home medical and support services so they can thrive together. This year, the organization that makes her care possible, Coastal Kids Home Care, is celebrating 20 years of bringing high-quality medical care into homes just like Daphne’s. 

The Bradley family’s journey is one such story. It is extraordinary and deeply inspiring. Luciano Bradley, now 20 years old and living with muscular dystrophy, has received palliative care and shift nursing services from Coastal Kids since 2020. As one of four children with special needs adopted by Pam Bradley and her husband, Luciano was welcomed into a home where love and joy are constant, even in the face of significant medical challenges. 

 From the beginning, the Bradleys understood that Luciano’s condition was life-limiting and that his care needs would increase over time. Still, they embraced the opportunity to build a vibrant, joy-filled family. “We know that Luciano’s condition is progressive, and Coastal Kids is a huge part of our life,” says Pam. “When you’re caring for medically complex kids, you need to know they’re in good hands—and Coastal Kids gives us that peace of mind.” 

 The admiration is mutual. “The Bradleys are truly special, and Luciano is amazing,” says his palliative nurse, Dillan Noel, RN. “We bond over our shared love of Star Wars and Marvel movies; he always has something fun to talk about.” Luciano also shares a deep connection with his shift nurse, Yimi Gutierrez, RN, who has been by his side every day for more than five years. It’s not uncommon to see them out for long walks through their Salinas neighborhood, just another part of the life Coastal Kids helps make possible.  

Daphne Reyes’s story is no less exceptional. She is a testament to resilience in the tiniest of packages. Born extremely early, she entered the world as a micropreemie fighting for every breath. Diagnosed with chronic respiratory failure as an infant, Daphne relies on a tracheostomy and ventilator to support her breathing. But despite serious medical challenges, her life at home has been filled with determination, progress, and delight—thanks in part to the Coastal Kids pediatric team, who have supported her since she came home in 2021. 

 Over the past four years, Daphne’s therapists have helped her reach critical developmental milestones. In 2022, when her parents were married, her physical therapist, Trish Krall, PT, DPT, PCS, C/NDT, played a meaningful role—teaching Daphne to walk down the aisle as their flower girl, a moment that brought tears to all. Today, she continues to grow under the care of her occupational therapist, Melissa Ramirez, OTR/L, who is helping her gain the skills and independence she will need to be successful in life. “Daphne is a sweet girl with a brilliant sense of humor,” says Melissa. “She has been working toward developing dexterity, strength, and coordination on tasks like buttoning. She loves puzzles and coloring too, and although she can already draw a circle, one of her next goals is to draw a triangle and square too.” 

 Now five years old, Daphne continues to defy expectations. As Coastal Kids celebrates two decades of caring for children like Luciano and Daphne, Margy reflects on the agency’s journey with gratitude and resolve. “Our kids remind us each day that no two journeys are the same. And the path we’ve taken to maintain high-quality home medical care for these children has had its challenges, too.” 

 What began as a small start-up in Salinas has grown into a vital lifeline for families throughout the region. Today, Coastal Kids employs more than 180 staff members, providing specialized care for children with complex medical needs in Monterey, Santa Cruz, San Benito, and Santa Clara Counties. Under Margy’s leadership, the agency has navigated numerous hurdles. Like many areas of healthcare, pediatric home health services are reimbursed at lower rates than adult services, making financial sustainability an ongoing concern. 

 For Coastal Kids, a major turning point came in late 2019 with a new partnership with Central California Alliance for Health, which expanded reimbursement for palliative and shift care services. Around the same time, a generous grant—along with a transformative gift from Silicon Valley entrepreneur TJ Rodgers and his wife Valeta—allowed the agency to purchase a permanent headquarters: the Rodgers Center for Children’s Health in downtown Salinas. With a strong foundation in place, the agency expanded its services to include bilingual mental health counseling for children and teens with mild to moderate needs. In 2024 alone, this program served 200 additional youth in Monterey County. 

 Today, Coastal Kids Home Care’s dedicated team of nurses, therapists, social workers, expressive therapists, and counselors works together to deliver high-quality, compassionate care. Services range from routine medical visits and physical therapy to mental health counseling and complex palliative care. Families like Luciano’s and Daphne’s receive not only expert medical support, but also emotional and practical guidance tailored to their specific needs. The goal is always to help each child reach their fullest potential—while supporting the wellbeing of the whole family. 

 Through it all, Coastal Kids never loses sight of its mission to meet the unique needs of medically fragile children at home. As Margy puts it, “Luciano, Daphne, and all of our patients are the heart of our mission—delivering care that respects each child’s unique path, honors their resilience, and supports their families along the way.”