American Cancer Society’s Niños Que Quieren Sonreír Hope Lodge—San Juan
About Our Facility
The American Cancer Society’s Niños Que Quieren Sonreír Hope Lodge provides free, temporary lodging to pediatric cancer patients and their caregivers. It’s more than a place to stay; it’s an environment of personal enrichment where patients and caregivers find support, understanding and encouragement from other families going through the same situation.
The Niños Que Quieren Sonreír Hope Lodge is open to children – from newborns to age 21 – undergoing cancer treatment in Puerto Rico. Patients must be accompanied by an adult. The Hope Lodge is open 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
Our facility offers 15 private rooms with air conditioning, 11 bathrooms, a fully-equpped kitchen on each floor, living room, activity room, playroom, laundry facilities, and a terrace and garden.
In 1988, American Cancer Society volunteers in Puerto Rico formed the Niños Que Quieren Sonreír Advisory Board to raise funds to support children with cancer and their families. Initially, the board offered assistance with the purchase of personal medical equipment and medicine, and also helped with transportation needs.
After receiving requests from pediatric oncologists for free housing for patients, the board began an ambitious campaign to create the Niños Que Quieren Sonreír Hope Lodge. In 1990, the board purchased and renovated a building close to San Juan’s pediatric cancer treatment centers. The building featured nine guest rooms and six bathrooms. In 2003, the American Cancer Society purchased a second building in order to increase the amount of patients served each year.
The Niños Que Quieren Sonreír Hope Lodge features 15 guest rooms, 11 bathrooms, a multipurpose room, game room, three living rooms, three kitchens and office space. It provides lodging for children undergoing treatment at four area hospitals and host patients from Puerto Rico and surrounding islands. The Hope Lodge organizes recreational activities throughout the year for cancer patients and their families and supports children and families through the services of an in-house clinical psychologist. In addition to lodging, the Hope Lodge provides support for pediatric cancer patients through transportation services, and limited financial help with medicines, studies, equipment, consultation with specialists and bone marrow transplants.
In total, more than 800 families have been served through the Niños Que Quieren Sonreír Hope Lodge.
At the Niños Que Quieren Sonreír Hope Lodge, American Cancer Society staff and volunteers are always there to help. Staff are onsite 24 hours a day, seven days a week, and our caring, compassionate volunteers are available every day of the week to ensure our guests have a great experience during their stay at the Hope Lodge.
To learn about volunteer opportunities or connect with the Niños Que Quieren Sonreír Hope Lodge staff, call (787) 725-0233.
Directions to come. Call (787) 725-0233 for information.
