CHILD Haus celebrates 15 years

For over 25 years, CHILD Haus has provided a home for children diagnosed with cancer.

The Center for Health Improvement and Life Development (CHILD) Haus is the first and only temporary home for children with cancer, which started out 15 years ago in Quezon City. Today, it has a seven-story multipurpose complex located on Agoncillo Street in Paco, Manila.

Through the initiative of the Ricky Reyes Foundation, CHILD Haus was created to provide respite for cancer-stricken children from the provinces in need of financial support for their treatments and home to stay.

It was through the efforts of philanthropist Ricky Reyes that CHILD Haus was able to extend a helping hand to children with cancer from all over the Philippines. Mother Ricky credits the continued success of CHILD Haus to the never-ending kindness and generosity of their various donors and benefactors, most especially to SM Holdings Inc. president Hans Sy.

CHILD Haus, in fact, found a home in Paco, Manila, all thanks to Mr. Sy or “Kuya Hans ng CHILD Haus.” It was on the business magnate’s 60th birthday in 2015 that he decided to build a bigger and better home for the children of CHILD Haus.

The construction of the complex is the result of Kuya Hans’ love, understanding and support for sick children. Instead of opting to buy material things for himself on his birthday, he wanted to do something to help other people in need. The construction of the CHILD Haus complex is the result of Kuya Hans’ love, understanding and support for these sick children. It is also a tribute to his late father, Henry Sy, Sr.

For over 25 years now, CHILD Haus has provided a home for children diagnosed with cancer. Nineteen-year-old Ronalyn Bataller from Albay, Bicol is one of its many residents. She was orphaned at just four years old and was left to take care of her two younger siblings. Their home was lost in 2015 because of the damage wrought by “Typhoon Reming.” To be able to provide for her siblings, Ronalyn started joining barangay pageants and doing housework for her relatives. At just 16, she was operated on and had her right ovary and appendix removed.

CHILD Haus was created to provide respite for cancer-stricken children from the provinces in need of financial support for their treatments and home to stay. She was also diagnosed with having mixed germ cell tumor and given only six months to live. Refusing to give up, Ronalyn traveled to Manila to seek another doctor’s opinion on her illness. It was through her Manila Doctor’s referral to CHILD Haus that Ronalyn was able to undergo treatment. She has now returned to her home in Albay to complete her road to recovery and reunite with her siblings.

Baby Richard Moreno, also a CHILD Haus resident from Bicol, was only three months old when he was diagnosed with liver cancer. His mother sought help for his treatment from one hospital to another until they came to Philippine Children’s Medical Center. They were referred to CHILD Haus for shelter and treatment for Baby Richard.

After several months at CHILD Haus, Baby Richard’s surgery will now push through, thanks to the numerous kindhearted donors especially Mayor Sandy Javier of Javier Town in Leyte, who volunteered for his expenses in India. Baby Richard is currently confined at Max Super Specialty Hospital in New Delhi, awaiting his liver transplant.