Hospital Regional de Talca introduces support kits for families of children with cancer

The Hospital Regional de Talca (HRT) in Chile has implemented a new initiative to support the siblings of children undergoing cancer treatment. Through the project ‘A la quimio con mi simio’, the hospital received 30 educational kits designed for patients and 30 kits specifically for their siblings.

Created by designer Sophie Traeger, the kits utilize a plush monkey and educational books to explain the chemotherapy process and its potential side effects. Dr. Gonzalo Muñoz Silva, head of the Pediatric Hematology and Oncology Service at HRT, noted that the tools are intended to help families discuss the illness and the treatment process, providing emotional support to siblings who often face uncertainty and fear during a family member's diagnosis.