By Daniela Barragan | Director
For this project report, we wanted to share first-hand reflections from our Families Coordinator, Paz Obando, on why this project is so important and the changes she has witnessed when children and their families receive specialized psychological therapy.
"In pediatric oncology, I learned something that doesn’t appear in textbooks: no child should go through cancer feeling alone, and no family should carry that fear in silence. Specialized psychological therapy is not just support; it is an emotional refuge in the middle of a storm no one chose.
I have seen children who, even with fragile bodies, find in therapy and in the foundation a space where they can continue being children: playing, asking questions, getting angry, crying… and also laughing. When they understand what is happening to them through words that do not frighten them, their world begins to take shape again. They regain a small sense of control, and in the midst of chaos, that is pure gold.
I have also seen mothers and fathers break down in therapy sessions—not because they are weak, but because they love so deeply that it hurts. And in that same space, I have seen them breathe again, understand that they do not have to be perfect heroes, but human beings who are accompanied. Therapy offers them a safe place where they can cry, organize their fear, and stand up again to support their child with greater calm and clarity.
The truth is simple: cancer shakes the entire family. But when there is specialized psychological support, that impact does not destroy everything. Inner networks of strength are built, hope is restored, and little by little, families learn to live with uncertainty without losing love or their sense of self.
That is why I continue to believe deeply in this work. Because I have seen a child smile again after difficult days. I have seen a family, broken by fear, find a way to hold each other once more. And I have seen that even in the darkest night, the right presence can ignite a light."
Our therapy sessions take place both at our facilities and at the hospital where children receive their medical treatment.
Our impact so far…
Thanks to the support of our donors and partners, we have been able to:
Provide 300 psychological therapy sessions for children, siblings, and parents.
Offer specialized emotional and psychological support to members of 24 families affected by childhood cancer.
Work directly in the hospital alongside our volunteers, bringing joy, emotional support, and companionship to hospitalized children and their families through ongoing Sunday interventions.
Continuously train volunteers to support therapeutic, emotional, and hospital-based activities.
All of this is possible thanks to your generosity. We believe that childhood cancer is better faced with the support of a strong community. Thank you for helping us build a united and supportive community in Ecuador with every donation.
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