The Casa Familia Foundation was founded in 2001 with the mission of providing a home for children with cancer from various regions, along with their guardians, so that they can receive their treatments at Luis Calvo Mackenna Hospital. This initiative arose from a family situation, as one of the founders' daughters fell ill with cancer, and they had to travel to the United States because, at that time in Chile, there was no treatment alternative that could offer a real possibility of recovery and, consequently, of survival. Their stay in the USA taught them how important it is, in such a situation, to be accompanied in spiritual, emotional, and psychological aspects.
Subsequently, Luis Gana, the head of the family, faced the same illness, and they had to travel once again to the United States. They already had 6 children in Chile, making the situation even more challenging. After these experiences, the Gana family wanted to channel what they had lived through and learned by helping other families facing similar situations but with fewer resources and knowledge about the disease.
In these more than 20 years of history, the goals and scope of Casa Familia have expanded. Currently, the foundation has two major houses. The first one, named Casa Sagrada Familia, accommodates children undergoing cancer treatment. Its main and initial objective is to welcome children from provinces who need to travel to Santiago for their treatment. We receive these children, accompanied by their primary caregiver, providing them with shelter, food, and all the spiritual and psychological support we can offer and they wish to receive. This welcoming house operates in a 4-story building located on Manuel de Salas Street in Ñuñoa. This building also serves as the headquarters of the Foundation, housing offices and administration.
In 2022, the Casa Familia Foundation embarked on a new challenge and inaugurated the first pediatric hospice in South America, Casa de Luz. Located in the commune of Independencia in the Metropolitan Region, this hospice welcomes both oncologic and non-oncologic children, providing them with high-quality palliative care filled with love, affection, and compassion, alongside their families, throughout the entire course of the illness, including the end of life and the grieving process.
It is important to mention that the hospice was built based on a unique care model worldwide, which is the result of collaborative work led by the Casa Familia Foundation. This foundation has been advised by an expert Voluntary Technical Commission and the internationally renowned Elisabeth Kübler-Ross Foundation Chile in the field.
All of the above led to a rethinking of the purpose that gave life to the Casa Familia Foundation, which is now broader and allowing them to reach more people. It has been redefined as follows: "We create spaces of welcome and connection that enhance the quality of life for children going through a serious illness, positively impacting their families, volunteers, community, and society."
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