Medellin: Critical Care for Vulnerable Children

Restoring Hope Through Advanced Pediatric Care

At San Vicente Fundación Children’s Hospital, thanks to the generosity of donors and partners, we reached a transformative milestone: the reopening of our Pediatric Liver Transplant Program. This program has achieved its first success and in 2026 will continue to increase our impact. 

This program aims to support all children facing life-threatening liver diseases across Antioquia and northwestern Colombia, where access to highly specialized pediatric transplant services is critically needed.

As a level 4 hospital, we care for children not only from Medellín and Antioquia, but from many regions across the country often serving as their only opportunity for this life-saving treatment.

Why This Program Matters

In Colombia, the organ donation rate sits at just 7.4 donors per million inhabitants. 

For children with severe liver disease, time is critical as there is no long term treatment capable of replacing liver function while awaiting a transplant. Without intervention, children can rapidly develop life threatening complications, from Acute liver failure to bleeding disorders.

For many of these children, a liver transplant is their only chance for survival.

Comprehensive, Specialized Care

Our Pediatric Liver Transplant Program offers a highly coordinated, multidisciplinary approach to care. From the moment transplantation becomes necessary, each child and family receives integrated support from a team that includes:

• Pediatric gastroenterology
• Transplant surgery
• Pediatric anesthesiology
• Intensive care
• Nutrition specialists
• Psychiatry
• Social work
• Rehabilitation and specialized nursing

With this approach, successful pediatric liver transplantation can achieve survival rates of more than 80%, comparable to leading international centers.

New Equipment Made Possible by Your Support

To safely relaunch this highly complex program, your contributions helped us acquire essential equiptment including:

• Ultrasonic Surgical Aspirator 
• Thompson Retractor System 

These advanced tools allow our surgical teams to perform delicate pediatric transplant procedures with greater precision, safety, and efficiency.

Your generosity directly equipped our operating rooms and made this program possible.

Looking Ahead to 2026

With your continued support, we will strengthen this program by expanding access, reducing wait times, and ensuring that more children receive timely, life-saving transplants.

Our commitment remains unwavering: no child should be denied the chance for a healthy future because of limited access to specialized care.

Your donation becomes a second chance at life.

Thank you for believing in the power of our mission.

With gratitude,
The San Vicente Fundación Team

Links:

• https://www.sanvicentefundacion.com/
• https://dona.co/

NEW ONCOLOGY SPACES – ACTIVITIES & LIFE

Creating spaces where healing feels human.

In 2025, our hospital hallways were filled with joy, hope, and care. Thanks to the generosity of our donors and partners, we achieved a major milestone for children with cancer: the complete renovation of the outpatient chemotherapy unit.

This transformation significantly improved comfort, safety, and dignity for pediatric oncology patients and their caregivers, many of whom come from highly vulnerable backgrounds and travel long distances to receive care.

Together, we carried out a comprehensive renovation of the outpatient oncology service, including:

• Remodeling of the waste management room
• A new nursing station
• 10 renew patient cubicles designed for privacy and comfort
• Renovated common areas
• Remodeled restrooms for patients and caregivers
• New medical equipment and facility upgrades
• Installation of air conditioning

Each improvement was designed to create safer, more welcoming spaces, where children can receive treatment in an environment that supports both physical and emotional well-being.

Social Impact

• 600 children with a cancer diagnosis cared for each year
• 1,600 chemotherapy sessions provided annually

Patient and family well-being:Children now receive chemotherapy in calmer, more comfortable spaces that reduce stress and improve their hospital experience.

Patient safety:Improved layouts and infrastructure strengthen infection control, safety protocols, and quality of care.

Better working conditions: Health professionals now work in safer, more efficient environments—allowing them to provide more compassionate, high-quality care.

Emotional support and life beyond treatment

Healing goes beyond medicine. In 2025, we prioritized emotional well-being and childhood joy through:

• 245 psychosocial and recreational activities throughout the year
• 49 activities in December alone, a particularly sensitive time for families

Through music, art, games, performances, and shared moments, children experienced relief, connection, and moments of joy. These activities were accompanied by gifts, toys, and hygiene kits—supporting families facing economic hardship and long hospital stays.

¡Thank you for making this possible!

Thank you for being part of a year filled with hope. Your generosity helped ensure that care reached more children and that families—especially mothers, grandmothers, and caregivers—did not carry this journey alone.

Your donation became dignity, comfort, and moments of joy in the midst of treatment.

Looking ahead to 2026

The need continues and so does our commitment.

In 2026, your support will be more important than ever. Your donation is essential to ensure that no child is denied care and that healing spaces continue to grow.

Thank you for believing in life, care, and hope.