Chemotherapy room renovation

Hospital Infantil San Vicente Fundación and Mia’s Miracles: A partnership bringing new hope for children with cancer

With a message of hope for hundreds of families, the Hospital Infantil San Vicente Fundación inaugurated this Friday its renovated Outpatient Pediatric Chemotherapy service, thanks to a donation of 600 million pesos made by the Mia’s Miracles Foundation, led by Colombian golfer Camilo Villegas and his wife María Ochoa.

Hospital Infantil San Vicente Fundación is one of the leading referral centers for pediatric oncology in Antioquia and Colombia. In 2024, the institution treated 643 children diagnosed with cancer, administered 1,646 chemotherapy sessions, and performed 110 oncological surgeries. Among the most frequent diagnoses is acute lymphoblastic leukemia, the leading type of childhood cancer.

Chemotherapy, a cornerstone of treatment for most pediatric tumors, represents not only a path toward healing but also a vital resource in palliative care when a cure is no longer possible. For this reason, the Hospital decided to move forward with a renovation process for its Pediatric Oncology Unit, focusing on ensuring a more comfortable, warm, and safe space for patients and their families.

“With this renovation, we want every child and their family to feel supported on this journey. Thanks to the support of Mia’s Miracles, we transformed the chemotherapy room into a space that provides not only treatment, but also hope and warmth. Today, our young patients have a place where life is cared for with humanity and where every detail inspires confidence in the future,” says Ana Milena Betancur Pizarro, director of the Hospital Infantil San Vicente Fundación.

The completed phase corresponds to the remodeling of the Outpatient Pediatric Chemotherapy service, which now features:

Appropriate cubicles that offer greater privacy and isolation when necessary.

• New children’s restrooms with nurse call systems for enhanced safety.
• Improvements in ventilation, lighting, and climate control, including air conditioning.
• Complete renovation of furniture adapted to the pediatric population and the needs of the healthcare staff.
• A play and well-being area featuring a sofa, television, and activity center, where children can color, interact with technology, or find distraction while receiving their treatment.

“We are very happy to deliver this new outpatient chemotherapy space for the children who need it most in Medellín and Antioquia. It is a place filled with joy and positivity, representing one of the many miracles our daughter Mia left behind for us,” says Camilo Villegas, founder of Mia’s Miracles.

The relationship between Hospital Infantil San Vicente Fundación and Mia’s Miracles began in 2022, with the donation of incubators, medical equipment, and cultural activities for hospitalized children. Since then, the foundation has become a close, strategic ally, supporting initiatives such as the distribution of kits to manage complications resulting from chemotherapy and providing accompaniment to families during holidays and special moments.

With the inauguration of this service, the Hospital Infantil San Vicente Fundación reaffirms its purpose of caring for life with excellence and humanity, consolidating its position as a high-complexity center for the comprehensive management of childhood cancer. This renovation not only strengthens medical care capacity, but also symbolizes the joining of forces between the institution and supportive allies who make it possible to transform the experience of patients and their families into a journey where hope and life always find a home.