Children’s Hospital–Upstate kicks off $6 million campaign
Children’s Hospital–Upstate has launched a campaign to raise $6 million for a new pediatric cancer and blood disorders unit that will combine “whole family care” with exceptional clinical expertise and provide more treatment space in the Upstate.
The unit will provide care for children and adolescents with cancer, bleeding disorders and sickle cell disease. Patient family suggestions were incorporated into the innovative design to help families feel more at home during what can be lengthy and repeated hospitalizations.
“I’m thrilled that we can take this next leap forward by creating a space that is literally custom built for and by families,” said Aniket Saha, MD, unit Medical Director. “This specially designed space will better blend family care with clinical care, helping reduce stress and offer a positive healing environment that nourishes the mind, body and soul.”
Children’s Hospital Medical Director Robin LaCroix, MD, said, “Over the past 10 years, the Upstate has experienced unprecedented growth, with a huge increase in the pediatric population. The construction of a new, expanded ‘purpose-built’ unit will help meet the needs of this growing patient population and is designed to create a more healing environment.”
Hogs for the Cause, a nonprofit barbecue competition and festival based in New Orleans with significant ties to South Carolina, kicked off the capital campaign by donating $1 million. The announcement for the “Inspire Courage” campaign comes during September’s Childhood Cancer Awareness Month.
“Hogs for the Cause’s visionary gift serves as an inspiring example of how private philanthropy can transform health care and bring hope to countless families in need,” Dr. LaCroix said. “This gift is a testament to the remarkable generosity and dedication of the Hogs for Cause organization and its Chief Executive Officer, Becker Hall. We are grateful to them and our community for the incredible support and belief in our mission.”
Construction on the unit – which will be named the Prisma Health Children’s Hospital–Upstate Hogs for the Cause Pediatric Hematology-Oncology Unit in honor of the lead gift – is slated to begin in early 2024 and will take about two years to complete.
The expanded unit will feature:
- Nine inpatient rooms
- Day-stay room with two infusion chairs for children who require day-long transfusion treatments but not overnight hospitalization
- Special two-room suite for families in end-of-life situations so family members can more comfortably support each other and their child
- Family-suggested design elements that include
- In-room desks so parents have space to work remotely as they stay close to their children
- A respite space for parents
- An expanded playroom
For more information about getting involved, visit www.PrismaHealthUpstateGiving.org/InspireCourage.
