This May 15, while many Paraguayan families gather to celebrate Mother's Day, a different scene unfolds at the Hospital Pediátrico Niños de Acosta Ñu. There, about 50 mothers are spending the day away from home, living in the hospital's shelter as they accompany their children through long-term treatments.
Ana, from Encarnación, has been at the hospital for nearly three years with her 15-year-old daughter Suelí, who is undergoing cancer treatment. “We practically started in 2023 with a simple headache, and they transferred us directly from Encarnación to this hospital,” she said. Moving Suelí is very difficult, so Ana chose to stay in the shelter. “It's very hard to go back and forth every eight days,” she explained.
Despite the hardship, Ana's face lights up when she describes her daughter as a cheerful girl who always smiles despite her condition. That smile, she says, is her best gift this Mother's Day. “The first year was very hard, but thank God we are still fighting as much as we can. Only God knows,” she said. She finds strength in the support network formed with other mothers and the nursing staff. “We support each other by spending the day together, talking, sharing. It's not the same as being at home with your family, but we get by because we have support,” she added.
Silvia, also from Encarnación, is accompanying her 16-year-old son, who was diagnosed with intramedullary astrocytoma about three years ago. His progress has been positive, though he now has limited mobility in one foot, requiring periodic visits to Acosta Ñu. “He's a normal boy; he goes to school, he's in the second year of high school, he shares time with his friends at home and here with the other kids. We mothers also share, organize ourselves, and get through the day,” she said.
Silvia initially stayed permanently in the shelter for six months. “At first it was a complete change because he's older and we had our habits. Here they give you guidelines to follow, and it's a matter of adapting. But as a mother, it's okay because he's older and understands his situation,” she noted.
The shelter at the Hospital Pediátrico Niños de Acosta Ñu is designed to house up to 70 family members of hospitalized patients. It has rooms, a kitchen, and laundry facilities. The first floor is reserved for parents of children with cancer and heart conditions; the second floor has shared dormitories for those whose children are in intensive care. Beyond lodging, the space offers climate-controlled areas, playrooms, and vocational training for mothers during long stays. It also ensures children's schooling through a hospital school.
For families from across the country with limited resources, the shelter is a vital part of the health system, allowing them to stay constantly by their children's side during complex treatments.