Join Leadership Miami’s 4the305 Team in transforming the bmt Family Lounge at Holtz Children’s Hospital into the SebastianStrong Superhero Lounge— a space designed to bring comfort, relief, and a sense of normalcy to families facing childhood cancer.
Why This Matters
For children undergoing a bone marrow transplant, isolation isn’t just a feeling—it’s their reality. The SebastianStrong Superhero Lounge at Holtz Children’s Hospital will transform a small, outdated space into a sustainable safe haven for a community facing the hardest moments of their lives. With your help, Leadership Miami’s 4the305 Team is making sure families like Jake’s have a space that gives them more than a backpack of comfort.
"I always carry a backpack filled with things to comfort Jake when he’s in the hospital. But no bag can hold everything a parent wishes they could give their child in that moment. This room can offer them something more—a little more space, a little more comfort, a little more relief. And sometimes, that’s everything."
- Each year 30-40 families end up on the Bone Marrow Transplant floor at Holtz Children’s Hospital. It may not sound like a lot but that’s exactly why these families need our help–they’re often overlooked.
- A bone marrow transplant is a child’s last hope when all other cancer treatments have failed.
- Kids spend at least 45-60 days in total isolation. In some cases, over 100 days.
- Even after they leave, many children face complications or require a second transplant–bringing them right back here.
- Unlike children on other floors, they cannot leave their rooms or interact with others due to the extreme risk of infection.
- Parents can’t leave their child’s side and need a place to rest, recharge, and find comfort.
- The current family lounge is outdated, non-functional, and uninviting. It feels more like a storage room than a sanctuary.
Today's Reality
Imagine being told your child will spend 60 days in total isolation.
They can’t leave their room. Siblings can’t visit. A simple cold could be deadly.
The only place you can step away is this room. But right now… this is it.
Tomorrow's Hope
Now, imagine a space that truly meets the needs of every child and parent who steps inside.
Picture a safe haven that offers comfort, connection, and hope.
This is what we can create together.
Our Vision
With your help, we will create the SebastianStrong Superhero Lounge–a space designed with families in mind. This fully renovated space will include:
- Comfortable seating so parents can truly rest.
- A gaming system so kids can escape their hospital room.
- A coffee station for exhausted caregivers.
- A cozy nook and calming design elements.
- Functional storage solutions to keep the space organized.
- A new TV and streaming services for better entertainment.
- A mural to bring joy and creativity into the space.
FUNDRAISING GOAL: $25,000
How You Can Help
Donate today: Every dollar brings us closer to giving these families a space they deserve.
Share this page: Help us spread the word and rally support for this project.
Sponsor a feature: Reach out if your company wants to sponsor a key element of the room. Contact Oscar Ortiz at (305) 335-0894 or via email at oscar@sebastianstrong.org.
Host a Fundraiser: Gather your network and raise funds for the Superhero Lounge.
Behind the Mission
Powered by Leadership Miami’s 4the305 Team and SebastianStrong.
SebastianStrong Foundation was founded in 2017 to honor Sebastian Ortiz, a courageous 16-year-old who fought cancer for 14 months. His only treatment options were over 40 years old—toxic, outdated, and ultimately ineffective. Today, far too many children still face the same reality. That’s why we’re dedicated to discovering hope for kids with cancer by funding groundbreaking research to find less toxic, more targeted treatments and supporting initiatives that provide comfort and care to families facing childhood cancer.
The Kids
Hear directly from the families impacted by childhood cancer.
The Science
Hear from the doctors and researchers who support the work we do.