Minaxi and Ankit Patel were afraid their future would entail many trips up Interstate 75 to Atlanta after their 7-year-old daughter, Smruti, was diagnosed with leukemia last year.

The Patel family is not alone in facing such a diagnosis. According to the American Cancer Society, about 9,950 children in the U.S. will be diagnosed with cancer this year, with leukemia being the most common type. However, with proper treatment, about 85% of children with cancer live five or more years after their diagnosis.

Fortunately, the Warner Robins family was able to get the treatment Smruti needed without traveling to Atlanta, thanks to the staff at Atrium Health Levine Children’s Beverly Knight Olson Children’s Hospital in Macon. The hospital is the only dedicated pediatric hospital in central and south Georgia with specialists in over 15 areas of pediatric medicine, caring for children from newborns to teens.

September is Childhood Cancer Awareness Month, and doctors at Beverly Knight Olson Children’s Hospital want to help raise awareness, advocate for research, and provide treatment and support to families like the Patels.

“Let’s shine a light on childhood cancer and let other families know that they are not alone in their fight,” said Dr. Lalitha Sivaswamy, pediatrics chair and service line leader for Atrium Health Levine Children’s in Macon. “With cancer being the leading disease-related cause of death for children in the United States, it’s imperative that we offer the most up-to-date treatment delivered by trained, skilled and caring specialists. Our team at Beverly Knight Olson Children’s Hospital is proud to offer that high-quality care right here in central Georgia.”

Smruti receives chemotherapy and physical therapy at the hospital. Her mother has been impressed with the staff’s caring attitude. “It is really amazing the way that they have treated her, the way that they treated me and my family. They have done some amazing things,” said Patel. “They have done such a great job making Smruti feel comfortable in the hospital and at home. They seem to know what makes her happy.”

As the only dedicated pediatric facility in central and south Georgia and one of the most comprehensive in the state, Beverly Knight Olson Children’s Hospital has the area's only dedicated pediatric emergency room. It provides care in general pediatrics, pediatric critical care, neonatal intensive care, and outpatient services. The hospital also serves as the primary teaching site for the Department of Pediatrics at the Mercer University School of Medicine.

For more information about services for children or to find a doctor, visit childrenshospitalnh.org.